New Labour leadership bridges North-South divide, says Durham council chief

Labour’s new leadership team can appeal ‘across the whole country’, according to a party chief in County Durham.
Newly-elected Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Picture by Aaron Chown/PA WireNewly-elected Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Picture by Aaron Chown/PA Wire
Newly-elected Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Picture by Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Former chief prosecutor Sir Keir Starmer was unveiled as the new leader of the opposition on Saturday, April 4, with Angela Rayner confirmed the winner of the deputy leader contest.

And Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council, thinks the new combination of a northern MP and one representing a London constituency at the top of the party could help broaden its appeal after last year’s (2019) election defeat.

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But he also warned the current COVID-19 outbreak means the pair face a unique set of challenges.

“I think it was a positive leadership campaign,” said Coun Henig.

“I can remember campaigns which were much less than positive, but this time around people in general were not abusing each other, whether in hustings or generally, over what has been quite a long period of time.

“It’s a good partnership, it’s good to have a northern MP [Rayner] in one of those positions and to have a woman in a leadership position as well.

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“It’s very balanced, which I think is important to appeal across the whole country.

“But, having said that, the current coronavirus crisis is taking all our attention, not just in Durham County Council, but at all levels of the Labour Party, it’s a very different situation they have taken over from compared to any other before.”

Rayner, previously Labour’s shadow education secretary, has been MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, in Greater Manchester, since 2015.

Starmer was Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service from 2008 – 2013 and, like Rayner, was elected to the House of Commons in 2015, representing London’s Holborn and St Pancras constituency.

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Coun Henig said he chose not to publicly back any of the leader or deputy leader candidates during the contest due to his position as chair of the Association of Labour Councils.

But he did praise Starmer’s ‘tone’ both while campaigning and immediately after the result was announced.

On Sunday April 5, Starmer promised to work “constructively” with the government, but also claimed ‘serious mistakes have been made’ in ministers’ response to COVID-19.

“I thought he struck the right note [with his statement on coronavirus],” said Coun Henig, “this is not a normal time, everything else has been put to the side and quite rightly.

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“This is the biggest crisis we’ve faced for decades and I think Keir Starmer has struck the right note in offering to support the government where it is appropriate to do so, while also picking up the things that need to be questioned.

“We all need to be working together.”

Coin Henig also praised Starmer’s picks for his top table cabinet team, which includes three North East MPs.

Houghton and Sunderland South’s Bridget Phillipson has been made shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough, has been appointed shadow Secretary of State for employment rights.

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Newcastle East MP Nick Brown has been kept on as opposition chief whip.

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