KEIR WE GO
MP Keir Starmer announces Labour leadership bid after admitting party faces ‘uphill struggle’
LABOUR leader favourite Sir Keir Starmer has thrown his hat in the ring to take the reigns from Jeremy Corbyn.
The millionaire barrister will launch his leadership bid tomorrow - the fifth MP to enter the race after Labour's crushing general election defeat.
But Brendan Chilton of party campaign group Labour Future, a Leave campaigner, urged Sir Keir to be more “positive” about Brexit. He said: “Labour must stop behaving and sounding like someone bereaved over the EU.”
Sir Keir was “central to Labour’s disastrous election”, he added, and would not get the top job if he “hinders Brexit’s progress”.
The shadow Brexit Secretary admitted the party faces an "uphill struggle" to "restore trust".
He also vowed to "not lose sight of our values or "retreat from the radicalism of the past few years" as he appealed to the party's hard-Left Corbyn camp.
A campaign film highlights his fights for justice and features words of support from Stephen Lawrence's mother Baroness Lawrence, who says he was "instrumental" in getting justice for her murdered son.
But outspoken Remainer Sir Keir made no mention of Brexit in the announcement after voicing support for a second referendum.
He has chosen to launch his bid in Brexit-backing Stevenage, Herts, tomorrow - where 59 per cent voted to leave.
FAVOURITE TO TAKE OVER
A poll released this week revealed Sir Keir is favourite to replace embattled Corbyn when he finally steps down.
The YouGov survey of Labour party members found nearly a third (31 per cent) picked moderate Sir Keir as their first choice.
He beat the Corbynista favourite Rebecca Long Bailey, who only got the backing of a fifth of members.
The findings are a major blow to Corbyn supporters, who are desperate for Ms Long Bailey to get the job so the left can maintain their grip on the party.
The poll of 1,059 members for The Guardian newspaper put Jess Phillips in third place with 11 per cent support.
While leftwinger Clive Lewis and party moderate Yvette Cooper - the wife of former Strictly star Ed Balls - are in joint fourth place with 7 per cent each.
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Emily Thornberry – who was once sacked from the frontbench for mocking a white van man who hung an England flag outside his home – only mustered 6 per cent.
Sir Keir has stormed to an early lead among all age groups, social classes and regions of the UK.
He was the head of the Crown Prosecution Service before becoming an MP in 2015 for Holborn and St Pancras.
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Labour's Sir Keir Starmer in car crash interview as he can't say whether party will deliver Brexit or Remain