Scottish support for Starmer’s leadership bid

Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Scottish Secretary Lesley Laird backs Keir Starmer’s bid for the Labour leadership

• Laird praises Keir’s leadership skills and “socialist credentials”

• Former MP served as Shadow Scottish Secretary in Jeremy Corbyn’s frontbench team

Keir Starmer’s campaign for leadership of the Labour Party was today boosted by the endorsement of former Shadow Scottish Secretary Lesley Laird. 

Ms Laird served in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet alongside Keir Starmer, until she lost her Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat in the December general election.

Praising Keir’s “socialist credentials”, Lesley Laird said: “I’m supporting Keir Starmer in this leadership election because I believe throughout this campaign already Keir has really shown his socialist credentials, which are going to be so important in taking forward the party and our policies to the electorate”. 

Praising Keir’s leadership abilities, she added:  “I’ve known Keir through our shadow cabinet roles, where he’s shown leadership – leadership at the despatch box and leadership in terms of the PLP – taking on difficult times and difficult territory for our Party through the Brexit process.

“I believe he has built up the trust and confidence of our PLP, of our wider membership and I believe he has the skills and the ability to build up the trust and confidence in the country – that will return a Labour Government.”

Mr Starmer is the overwhelming favourite to replace Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party, with the other candidates Rebecca Long Bailey and Lia Nandy trailing.

Angela Rayner heads the race to become Deputy Leader.

Ballots will be dispatched to eligible Labour Party members from Monday 24 February.