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Labour leadership: Nandy outlines 'empowering' welfare system | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy has said she would give claimants a bigger role in designing an "empowering" welfare system. | |
In a speech, the Wigan MP said the current system lacked "human empathy" and was too complicated for people to understand. | |
She said she would reverse cuts to the welfare system by ditching planned reductions in national insurance. | |
She has been backed by Jess Phillips, who quit the race on Wednesday. | |
Ms Phillips told reporters she would be giving her first preference vote to Ms Nandy, with shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer her second choice. | |
She said another candidate, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, was not the right leader for Labour at the moment, but "there's no reason to say she can't change". | |
So far, Sir Keir Starmer is the only contender in the race to secure a place on the ballot, after he won the backing of shopkeepers' union USDAW. | |
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry is the fourth candidate in the race to replace outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn. | |
Speaking earlier on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Nandy said changes to the welfare system had been undermined by the "values which permeate the system". | |
She added the welfare regime has tended to "see people as problems to be solved, not potential to be realised", and said the Labour party should ditch a "paternalistic" attitude on the issue. | |
In its election manifesto, Labour had argued for the universal credit scheme to be scrapped and replaced with an alternative system that "treats people with dignity and respect". | |
Ms Nandy added that she supported the "principle" of the scheme, but "no support at all" had been offered to those being rolled onto the new system. | Ms Nandy added that she supported the "principle" of the scheme, but "no support at all" had been offered to those being rolled onto the new system. |
"If you want to empower people, you have to put the support in," she added. | "If you want to empower people, you have to put the support in," she added. |
With Sir Keir's place on the ballot secured, the three other candidates are locked in a battle to join him by securing support from local parties and affiliated groups. | With Sir Keir's place on the ballot secured, the three other candidates are locked in a battle to join him by securing support from local parties and affiliated groups. |
To make it to the final stage, candidates have to secure nominations from 5% of constituency Labour parties (CLPs), or three affiliate groups - two of which must be trade unions - representing at least 5% of affiliated members. | To make it to the final stage, candidates have to secure nominations from 5% of constituency Labour parties (CLPs), or three affiliate groups - two of which must be trade unions - representing at least 5% of affiliated members. |
Sir Keir cleared this hurdle after being backed by Unison, the UK's largest union, and a second union, Usdaw, as well as environmental campaign group Sera. | Sir Keir cleared this hurdle after being backed by Unison, the UK's largest union, and a second union, Usdaw, as well as environmental campaign group Sera. |
As well as securing the support of GMB, Ms Nandy had already received the backing of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). | As well as securing the support of GMB, Ms Nandy had already received the backing of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). |
Ms Long-Bailey has so far only received the backing of bakers' union the BFAWU, but is tipped to get nominated by the Unite union later this week. | Ms Long-Bailey has so far only received the backing of bakers' union the BFAWU, but is tipped to get nominated by the Unite union later this week. |
So far Ms Thornberry has not been backed by any affiliate group, and had only secured two out of the required 33 CLPs which would help her onto the ballot. | So far Ms Thornberry has not been backed by any affiliate group, and had only secured two out of the required 33 CLPs which would help her onto the ballot. |
Mr Corbyn's successor - and the successor to his deputy, Tom Watson - will be announced on 4 April. | Mr Corbyn's successor - and the successor to his deputy, Tom Watson - will be announced on 4 April. |