West London Labour Members Endorse Sir Keir Starmer as Leader

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Constituencies including Hammersmith also vote for Angela Rayner MP as deputy

Sir Keir Starmer, MP for Camden and favourite to become Labour leader

Labour members from constituencies in West London have overwhelmingly endorsed MP Sir Keir Starmer to become the party’s next leader.

The second stage of the party’s leadership contest ended on Friday last week, after constituency Labour parties across the country held events to nominate the party’s next leader and deputy leader.

Sir Keir, the former director of public prosecutions whose constituency is in Camden, appeared to be the favourite in West London for party leader. In the rest of the country he was nominated by 374 constituencies, while MP Rebecca Long-Bailey came second with 164 nominations.

 
MP Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, pictured aboveb is the strong favourite to become deputy leader among both West London Labour members and across the country.

The results from each constituency in the boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster were as follows:

Chelsea and Fulham members voted for Keir Starmer to be leader and MP Rosena Allin-Khan, pictured above, to be deputy leader.
Cities of London and Westminster members voted for Keir Starmer to be leader and MP Richard Burgon to be deputy leader.
Ealing Central and Acton members voted for Keir Starmer to be leader and MP Dawn Butler to be deputy.
Ealing North members voted for Keir Starmer to be leader and Angela Rayner to be deputy leader.
Ealing Southall members voted for Rebecca Long-Bailey to be leader and Richard Burgon to be deputy leader.
Hammersmith members voted for Keir Starmer to be leader and Angela Rayner to be deputy leader.
Kensington members voted for Rebecca Long-Bailey to be leader and Richard Burgon to be deputy leader.
Westminster North members voted for Keir Starmer to be leader and Angela Rayner to be deputy leader.

Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith, attended his constituency Labour party’s nomination event on February 6. He wasn’t surprised that his local party nominated Sir Keir over Lisa Nandy, a former Hammersmith and Fulham councillor who came third whilst securing enough nominations to stay in the race.

“I voted for Keir and Angela Rayner,” Mr Slaughter said.

“It was a very clear result. I think Rebecca Long-Bailey got a few more votes than Lisa Nandy, although Lisa is very well-liked here. I just think Keir is an obviously outstanding candidate.”

Explaining how the nomination process took place in Hammersmith, he said 150 of the constituency’s 2,000 members took part.

“There’s a little handout given to everyone with information about the candidates, and everyone can put up their hand and advocate any of the candidates for up to three minutes.

“It was all very civilised and good natured. Then we go and vote, and the votes are counted and they declare the winner.”

Islington MP Emily Thornberry, was knocked out of the race to become party leader on Friday last week, as she failed to get enough nominations from constituency Labour parties.

With the the second round of the contest now complete, the third and final round will see an open ballot of all party members to choose the leader and deputy leader. This commences on February 21 and closes on April 2. The result will be announced on April 4.

Local Democracy Reporter Owen Sheppard

February 18, 2020