Is Barry Gardiner joining the Labour leadership race?
Left-winger says he will make decision today after contradictory reports
Barry Gardiner says he is considering running for the Labour party's leadership.
The shadow international trade spokesman told the BBC he will make a decision whether to enter the race shortly. The Guardian says the news has “shocked” Labour.
However, Gardiner has denied reports that Unite union boss Len McClusky had called him to encourage him to stand. McCluskey had earlier disputed a report in the Huffington Post that he has asked left-leaning frontbenchers to enter the race to replace Jeremy Corbyn.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
McCluskey tweeted: “This is utter nonsense. I certainly haven't been approached by Barry to support him as leader. Let me also make clear I have not indicated any concerns about RLB's campaign, or anyone else's.
“I repeat what I've been saying for weeks. There will be no announcement from Unite until our EC meets the candidates on 24 Jan. Claims to the contrary should be dismissed as fake news.”
With questions mounting over the issue, The Spectator’s Isabel Hardman asks: “Is Barry Gardiner running for Labour leader or not? The question is almost as confusing as whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have resigned from the Royal Family.”
She writes that “there have been mutterings from those on the left of the party that they aren’t fully happy with Rebecca Long-Bailey’s campaign,” adding: “Whether one of those unhappy people is Len McCluskey isn’t clear.”
Gardiner has been Brent North MP since 1997. He has argued that Labour should abide by the 2016 general election result, pitting him against other shadow cabinet members who have pushed for a second referendum.
The other candidates to replace Jeremy Corbyn are shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, shadow treasury minister Clive Lewis, Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy.
The hopefuls have until 13 January to win the backing of the 22 MPs and MEPs needed to get on the ballot paper.
Keir Starmer has become the first candidate to pass this threshold, attracting 41 nominations. He also won the backing of the UK's largest union Unison, the first union to state a preference.
Dave Prentis, the Unison general secretary, told The Independent: “This is a pivotal time for Labour. We believe – if elected by the membership – Keir Starmer would be a leader to bring the party together and win back the trust of the thousands of voters who deserted Labour last month.”
The party's new leader will be announced on 4 April.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The toilet roll tax: UK's strange VAT rules
The Explainer 'Mysterious' and 'absurd' tax brought in £168 billion to HMRC last year
By The Week UK Published
-
Why is Tesla stumbling?
In the Spotlight More competition, confusion about the future and a giant pay package for Elon Musk
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How Taylor Swift changed copyright negotiations in music
under the radar The success of Taylor's Version rerecordings has put new pressure on record labels
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Barack Obama 'behind Starmer transformation'
Under The Radar The former US president urged Labour leader to 'talk more openly'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Keir Starmer: The Biography – five things we learned
Why everyone's talking about New book offers glimpses behind the Labour leader's political persona
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What will £28bn green investment U-turn cost Labour?
Today's Big Question Dropping flagship pledge 'will confirm workers' scepticism of the endless promises of jam tomorrow', said union leader
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How many seats do Labour and the Tories need to win?
In depth Changes to constituency boundaries mean Labour needs even bigger swing at next election to form a majority
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published