Labour Leadership Special: North West MPs make the case for Burnham, Cooper, Corbyn & Kendall
This weekend the Labour Party will elect it's next leader to replace Ed Miliband and win back the country from the Conservative Party in 2020.
As the leadership contest enters it's final few hours, Granada Reports has asked four North West MPs to make their case for the candidate.
Who has what it takes?
"Andy gets people. He understands their lives. He would be a leader people can relate to..."
Luciana Berger, Liverpool Wavetree MP, is supporting Andy Burnham
"I'm backing Andy Burnham because he is the only candidate who can lead our party to win again, form a Labour Government that our country needs, and help everyone to get on in life.
"This contest has shown that people want change. People are fed up with politics as usual. Andy gets that. That's why he has put forward big ideas, such as extending the NHS principle to social care and abolishing tuition fees, that will inspire people to vote Labour at the next election.
"Andy has the combination of bold leadership, character, and strength. Andy gets people. He understands their lives. He would be a leader people can relate to, and a leader who genuinely listens to and understands people's challenges.
"Andy came from humble beginnings to serve in the cabinet - he can communicate with everyone, across class and culture, North and South, with business owners and on building sites. And he cares passionately about building a country where everyone can get on in life.
"We need a Leader with grit, with resilience and with determination to navigate us through the tough times ahead. Andy is that man. He has the vision, he has the drive and his track record proves he is up to the job.
"I urge everyone voting to join me and give their vote to Andy. He won't let us down."
"Jeremy Corbyn’s greatest contribution is that he is not accepting the status quo..."
Michael Meahcer, MP for Oldham West and Royton, is supporting Jeremy Corbyn
"It is curious that the main charge thrown against Jeremy Corbyn – apart from all the bluster and hysteria – is that his policies lack ‘economic credibility’. The assumption presumably is that the economic policies pursued by UK governments, both Labour and Tory, as well as by the EU, were sufficiently credible and rewarding as to justify or even necessitate their continuing to be followed. Even a second’s thought shows that that is an absurd proposition. The business model of free market de-regulated capitalism which has been ruthlessly taken to extremes over the last 3 decades is patently bust. It led inexorably to the biggest global breakdown for nearly a century, followed by the longest recession and the slowest recovery since the 1870s – indeed a secular stagnation with still no recovery in sight.
"We were told that the markets were self-regulating and that the role of government was to get out of the way. It turned out that the opposite was true, and that the economic system was only kept going at all by the constant drip-feed of government-initiated QE. We were told that the dynamics of capitalism would self-generate the levels of demand to keep the system constantly expanding. It turned out that growth was only achieved, if at all, by stacking up debt to prodigious levels, opening the way to the next financial crisis when the debt bubble imploded.
"Perhaps Jeremy Corbyn’s greatest contribution is that he is not accepting the status quo which is rotten: an over-sized financial sector, a neglected manufacturing industry, inadequate investment, flat productivity, huge and growing balance of payments deficits, ballooning inequality, and an economy mired in enormous permanent debt. He deserves credit for arguing that the fundamentals have got to be changed; it’s a debate we desperately need."
This post first appeared on Michael Meacher's website, found here.
"Yvette is the candidate with the credibility to win back voters across the country, from the school gate to the boardroom..."
Kate Green, MP for Stretford & Urmston, is supporting Yvette Cooper
"Leading the Labour party is a tough job. It needs someone with principles, vision and determination. Someone who can change our party, in order to deliver the change needed by the country. Someone who isn’t afraid to speak out when necessary, to take on a challenge, and fight for what they believe in.
"I’ve had the privilege of working for Yvette, and I’ve always known that she has those qualities in abundance. I’m delighted that over the course of our leadership campaign, more and more people have seen what Yvette is made of.
"Her competence, authority and expertise shine through. She’s leading, not following, the debate. It is Yvette who’s made a stand to defend Labour’s record, and taken the attack to the Tories. She recognised Labour failed to nail the myths over supposed Labour overspending. So instead of just capitulating to George Osborne, she’s been the only frontbench candidate seriously arguing Labour’s spending in government didn’t cause the financial crash - and that historically Labour has run a surplus four times as often as the Tories.
"In a brave and outspoken speech, she also defined herself (rightly) as the radical candidate in this contest, taking on Jeremy’s appealing, popular, but ultimately flawed, economic policies. She’s set out her stall for the future success of our country, for a new clause 4 with equality at its heart, and plans to increase childcare, build more homes, invest in the hi-tech jobs of the future, and tackle shameful levels of child poverty.
"Most recently, we’ve all seen the lead she’s shown in the past few days, with her call for Britain to fulfil its moral responsibility to those caught up in the terrible refugee crisis. It was Yvette’s demand that Britain take many more thousands of refugees that’s forced David Cameron into action.
"Yvette is the candidate with the credibility to win back voters across the country, from the school gate to the boardroom. Her roots in her Yorkshire constituency, her time on benefits as young woman who suffered a period of serious ill health, her role as a mum, a sister, daughter of a trade unionist, the inspiration she’s drawn from the strong women in her family – her own life journey’s at the root of her politics, her ability to connect with people, and her passionate belief in equality and justice."
"Labour's defeat in the May General Election was a disaster for Liverpool...Liz Kendall has stressed the importance of listening to voters in these areas..."
Stephen Twigg, MP for Liverpool West Derby, is supporting Liz Kendall
"It is very encouraging that so many new people have signed up as members and supporters of the Labour Party. Whoever wins the leadership and deputy leadership it is crucial that we move forward together as a united Labour Party.
"One of the main reasons that I support Liz Kendall is her commitment to real devolution of power. I want to see decisions that impact on the lives of my Liverpool constituents being made at a local level. For too long, our system of Government has been highly centralised. Labour needs to challenge this and I am impressed that Liz has given priority to devolution.
"Education is crucial if we are going to build a fairer, more equal society. Liz Kendall has emphasised strongly the importance of high quality early years education. I am proud that the previous Labour Government created Sure Start. I agree with Liz that we need a renewed emphasis on the early years if we are to break the link between family background and life chances.
"Labour's defeat in the May General Election was a disaster for my constituents in Liverpool. If Labour is to have any prospect of defeating the Tories in 2020 we need to regain seats directly from the Conservatives - constituencies like Warrington South, Bury North and Pendle. Liz Kendall has stressed the importance of listening to voters in these areas so that we can understand better why they were not persuaded to vote Labour this time.
"It is not a choice here between power and principles. All four candidates for leader share Labour values of equality and justice. They have different views about how Labour can win back public support. Whoever wins on Saturday we have a duty to listen and learn so that next time we have a Labour Government."