New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
10 May 2015updated 25 Jul 2021 6:42am

Liz Kendall MP confirms she will be running for the Labour leadership

The shadow minister for care and older people confirms she will be running.

By Anoosh Chakelian

Liz Kendall confirmed to Andrew Neil on the Sunday Politics that she will be running for the Labour leadership.

As an aside at the end of her interview, during which she was asked about Labour’s future, its campaign mistakes, and the whereabouts of the Ed Stone, Neil asked: “You are running?”

“Yes,” she replied.

Kendall has been MP for Leicester West since 2010 and is on the shadow health team. Her brief is care and older people.

She was widely touted as one of the runners and riders for the next Labour leader, and has now confirmed that she will be running.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

She is thought of as a Blairite candidate, telling the Sunday Times:

We need to show people that we understand their aspirations and ambitions for the future, and if you look right across England, we did not do enough to appeal to Conservative supporters, and we must.

She has criticised Labour’s campaign as being too negative, and also decried its narrow focus on zero-hours contracts.

Chuka Umunna, shadow business secretary and another likely candidate for the leadership was more coy on the Marr Show, refusing to confirm that he will be running, but giving a similar critique of Labour’s past five years as Kendall.

Content from our partners
The Circular Economy: Green growth, jobs and resilience
Water security: is it a government priority?
Defend, deter, protect: the critical capabilities we rely on