FIVE Labour MPs have made it through to the next stage of the race to replace Jeremy Corbyn.
Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Emily Thornberry all secured the support of at least 22 of their MP and MEP colleagues – the threshold required under party rules to stand for the leadership.
Clive Lewis dropped out of the process around an hour before the deadline.
READ MORE: Clive Lewis: Scotland has the right to decide its own future
Meanwhile, Ian Murray, the party’s only Scottish MP and representive of Edinburgh South, has made it through to the second round of the contest to be Labour’s next deputy leader. He’ll be up against Angela Rayner, Dawn Butler, Richard Burgon and Rosena Allin-Khan. In the main race, Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, was, the clear favourite by some distance with 89 nominations.
Rebecca Long-Bailey, the left-winger who is close to Corbyn having been his shadow secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy was second on 33. Nandy had 31 supporters, while Phillips had 23 backers.
Thornberry only just made it over the line in time. Like Phillips, she secured 23 nominations, but only after winning the last minute support of some of the five MPs who had backed Lewis.
The next stage asks candidates to win nominations from at least 33 constituency Labour parties or three affiliates, of which two must be trade unions. Candidates who pass that round will be on the final shortlist which will be voted on by party members, trade union members, members of affiliated societies and registered supporters.
There are plans for a hustings in Glasgow on February 15th, along with similar events in London and five other cities, but there was criticism from some in the party at the lack of events in the north of England.
READ MORE: Ian Murray's latest comments tell us all we need to know about him
Yvette Cooper tweeted: “Completely ridiculous not to have a @UKLabour hustings in Yorkshire. We need more people to be able to get involved in rebuilding our party & support in Yorkshire, not less.”
Starmer said the decision did “not reflect well on the party and will be a step backwards” in making the “the argument for a radical Labour government”.
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