Labour Party announces four contenders for the Deputy Leadership slot

by Benson Agoha | Politics

Harriet Harman: 
Interim Leader of the Labour Party.

Re-organising Labour Party has released a list of five contenders for the Deputy Leadership position.

The list, released by Harriet Harman, Interim Leader of the Labour Party includes:

1) Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey: who said she is standing to be Deputy Leader to be a champion for Party members, to fight for equality and to be a tough opponent of the Tories. She said "I'm a straight talker and an honest broker.  I will always put the interests of the Labour Party first." She has been nominated by 40 MPs.

2) Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow: who said she is standing because she wants Labour to be a movement and not a machine.  She said changes happen when "We show that we have answers to the challenges our communities face." She has been nominated by 35 MPs.

3) Ben Bradshaw, MP for Exeter: who was a former Torry MP.  He had previously held numerous ministerial positions including at the Foreign Office, Health,Defra, and in the Cabinet as Culture Secretary. When he tripled his majority against the tide in the last elections, he pointed out it was "inclusive politics with the wider Labour family, faith groups, business and unions that was responsible for the success. He has been nominated by 37 MPs.

4) Caroline Flint, MP for Don Valley: who said she knows what it feels like to be on benefits, worry about money, need a job, childcare and a secure place to live. She said Labour Party exists to win elections to improve lives and make the world a better place. "I lead by example. I'm a hands-on constituency MP, a doorstep and community campaigner, a creative policy maker". She has been nominated by 43 MPs.

5) Tom Watson, MP for West Bromich East: who said being a campaign veteran since 1974, he wants to use his long experience to help the new leader win in 2020. He said "I believe I can help our new leader grapple with the questions of how we lost, what we stand for and what we need to do to win." He said he will make sure that the vision of the Leader is realised. He has been nominated by 62 MPs. 

Voting for the new set of leaders will open on 14 August, 2015.

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