LABOUR’s former parliamentary candidate for Mid-Worcestershire has welcomed the appointment of Sir Keir Starmer as the party’s new leader and backed his efforts to hold the Government to account
Helen Russell spoke after the former Shadow Brexit Secretary defeated Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey in a ballot of party members and other supporters.
The former lawyer, who only became an MP in 2015, won on the first round of voting with 56.2 per cent of the vote ahead of Mrs Long-Bailey and Ms Nandy while former Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner won the contest to become the party’s deputy leader.
Miss Russell hailed Sir Keir and Mrs Rayner as a ‘formidable duo’ who would head up a shadow cabinet capable of working in the national interest, especially during the coronavirus crisis, whilst holding the Tories to account.
“Labour is ready to face the challenges which lie ahead, none more so than the immediate crisis of a pandemic which is causing jobs to be lost, people to feel isolated and the terrible prospect of losing loved ones,” she said.
“It is now time for the Labour Party to rebuild the trust and confidence of the public and to exemplify the values of fairness and equality that we hold dear.
She highlighted the appointment of women to three of the top jobs below leader with Mrs Rayner also appointed as party chairman while Anneliese Jane Dodds and Ms Nandy will serve as Shadow Chancellor and Shadow Foreign Secretary.
Mrs Dodds is the first female Shadow Chancellor and Miss Russell said: “I am delighted so many women have been appointed to shadow cabinet positions, 17 alongside the 15 men, showing that Labour is fully committed to women’s representation and an equal voice for women in society and its institutions.
“Women aren’t held back by a lack of skills or ability but because our society and our institutions systematically withhold power, and this is why having women appointed to top shadow cabinet positions is an important step towards equality.
“I am especially pleased at the appointment of Anneliese Dodds to the position of Shadow Chancellor, becoming the first woman ever to be Shadow Chancellor or Chancellor.
“I know Anneliese from our time together in the student movement and she is extremely talented, has a strong track record as Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury and is committed to a tax system where everyone pays their fair share to support our public services,” she added.
