Tom Watson, the former deputy leader, said that Labour leadership candidates from the shadow cabinet had to explain why they kept losing elections LUKE DRAY/GETTY IMAGESRebecca Long Bailey has been criticised by Tom Watson as a “continuity” leadership candidate who will champion “Corbynism in its purest sense”. The former deputy leader said that Ms Long Bailey was the potential successor to Jeremy Corbyn about whom he was most worried and suggested that the next leader should not come from the shadow cabinet. Ms Long Bailey, who is yet to formally announce her candidacy, Sir Keir Starmer, Emily Thornberry and Clive Lewis are all leadership contenders who served in Mr Corbyn’s frontbench team. Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips are both running from the backbenches. Mr Watson, who stood down as an MP and Labour’s deputy leader at the election, said that Ms Long Bailey, the shadow business secretary, would follow Mr…

Source: The Times January 06, 2020 12:11 UTC