Caroline Flint has revealed the names of a further 12 supporters in her bid to become Labour’s next deputy leader. The announcement takes her parliamentary nominations to 24 overall. The Flint campaign has also announced the make-up of its campaign team: David Blunkett will serve as campaign chair, while Julie Elliot, the MP for Sunderland, and Jim Fitzpatrick, the MP for Poplar & Limehouse, will act as vice-chairs. In a unprecedented move, Victoria Groulef, the defeated candidate for Reading West, will serve as a campaign vice-chair.
It leaves Flint in a commanding position as far as declared parliamentary nominations are concerned. Her nearest rival in terms of public nominations is Stella Creasy, with nine nominations, followed by Angela Eagle and Ben Bradshaw, both with eight, Tom Watson, who has seven, John Healey, who has five, and finally Rushanara Ali, who has three. It’s believed that Watson, along with Flint, has secured more than enough nominations to ensure he makes the ballot. Healey, who is popular throughout the parliamentary party, should also easily secure the 35 MPs he needs to stand. That leaves the other candidates, including Creasy – who according to a LabourList poll, is the members’ first choice – still struggling to make the ballot.
The full list of Flint’s new supporters is below:
Wayne David
Jim Dowd
Julie Elliott
Yvonne Fovargue
Barry Gardiner
Mary Glindon
Kate Hoey
Siobhain McDonagh
Albert Owen
Toby Perkins
Joan Ryan
Jonathan Reynolds