There is a long way to go but Keir Starmer has emerged as the candidate to beat in the Labour leadership race.

In a significant move  he received the backing of the Unison union  yesterday. 

The endorsement came just hours after the latest tally of nominations by MPs showed him comfortably ahead of his rivals with at least 26 names in the bag – four more than the 22 needed to progress to the next round.

Announcing Unison’s backing Dave Prentis, the general secretary, betrayed the impatience many in the movement feel with the lack of hunger for power in the Corbyn years.

“Unions created the Labour Party to give working people a voice in Westminster. 

“But it can only achieve for them, their families, their communities and the country’s public services when in government,” Prentis said.

Unison, it should be remembered, nominated Corbyn in 2015.

There is no doubt the momentum, if not Momentum, is with Starmer.  

Unison’s backing not only all but secures his name on the ballot paper – you need the endorsement of 5% of unions or CLPs and 10% of MPs –  but could provide his campaign with much needed resources.

Success also tends to breed success as ambitious MPs looking for a frontbench post start to fall behind the most likely winner.

Though you only have to look at the 2010 and 2015 leadership races to remember that the campaign matters. 

David Miliband was pipped to the post by his brother ten years’ ago and Corbyn went from rank outsider to winner five years’ later.

It would be a surprise if Rebecca Long Bailey did not also make it onto the ballot paper. 

Jess Phillips insists she will have the numbers and Lisa Nandy is picking up support  after her strong performance before Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday night.

Emily Thornberry and Clive Lewis are struggling and must be wondering how long they should soldier on before retiring with grace.

All eyes will now be on which candidates the other big three unions, Unite, GMB and Usdaw, decide to endorse.

It will be interesting to see if they share Unison’s frustration with Labour losing four elections in a row.

Long Bailey has enlisted the support of Momentum founder Jon Lansman and the former Corbyn press office Matt Zarb-Cousin who should sharpen what has been to date a lacklustre campaign.

Though the unexpected announcement that  Barry Gardiner, who has been slavishly loyal to Corbyn, is also considering standing  shows that all is not happy among the Labour left.

Gardiner, the shadow International Trade Secretary, struggles at times to be taken seriously and it is difficult to see how he will get the 22 MP nominations needed by Monday’s deadline.

But the fact he is a mulling a bid suggests that some of his colleagues on the left have doubts about Long-Bailey’s ability or willingness to fly the flag of Corbynism.

Today's agenda:

9.30am – Stephen Barclay takes Brexit questions in the Commons, perhaps for the last time.

10.30am – Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg comes out of exile to give regular update on House of Commons business.

11.30am (Approx) – Remaining stages of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

What I am reading:

Martin Kettle on how we may have misread Boris Johnson

Source: Read Full Article