Labour leadership hustings schedule branded 'disappointing' for missing areas where party suffered major election losses

Hustings are due to take place in the race to replace Jeremy Corbyn
AFP via Getty Images
Jacob Jarvis13 January 2020
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A lack of Labour leadership hustings in areas where the party haemorrhaged support in last year's general election has been branded "disappointing and ridiculous".

The party has been criticised after releasing details of the events, to be held throughout January and February, were released last night.

There is no event in the East Midlands or Yorkshire, both components of the party's so-called "red wall" which crumbled in December's vote.

Meanwhile, the South East of England outside of London has also been neglected.

Leadership candidates Sir Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips have all criticised the schedule's evasion of areas where Labour suffered substantial losses at the polls.

Rory Palmer, Labour MEP for the East Midlands, told the Standard: "It’s disappointing and ridiculous that there’s no official hustings events scheduled in the East Midlands and Yorkshire regions, and in the South East outside of London.

“These areas are full of seats which Labour has just lost, in many cases not just lost but where the Tories now hold handsome majorities in places Labour has held for generations. Party members in these places deserve the chance to put their questions to the leader and deputy leader candidates.

"These are the constituencies that are the frontline in Labour’s battle for future credibility and success.”

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The events are set to be livestreamed though Mr Palmer said he does not feel this is enough for those areas which have been missed, adding: "A live webstream just isn’t adequate: this is not just about the practicalities it’s about the message it sends to party members in those areas that are now fundamental to Labour’s very survival and relevance as a party."

Mr Palmer has written to the party's general secretary and said he believes this could be discussed by the party's NEC, national executive committee this evening.

Leadership frontrunner Sir Keir has written to the governing body, and tweeted: "I’m disappointed the Party hasn’t organised hustings in the South East, East of England or Yorkshire.

"Labour can win the next election, but only if we win back people’s trust across the UK."

His competitor Ms Phillips wrote: "It will take a lot more than holding a local hustings to win back trust in the seats we lost at the general election, but it would be a start. Let’s have more events in every region and nation - and not just in big cities!"

Ms Nandy added: "As I have repeatedly said, the Labour Party has lost seats for the first time in our history in areas like Bolsover, Wrexham and Stoke. The failure to debate the future of our party in communities like these shows that we are part of the problem."

In a statement, a representative for the Labour Party said its plans were to make the hustings open to "as many party members of possible".

They said: “We will hold hustings right across our country in venues chosen to be accessible to as many party members as possible.”

They did not clarify whether concerns raised were to be discussed by the party's National Executive Committee.

The hustings will be held in Liverpool, Durham, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Glasgow and London.

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