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Labour leadership: Nandy outlines 'empowering' welfare system Labour leadership: Nandy joins Starmer on final ballot
(about 2 hours later)
Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy has said she would give claimants a bigger role in designing an "empowering" welfare system. Lisa Nandy is the second Labour leadership hopeful to get onto the final ballot, after Chinese for Labour announced it was supporting her.
In a speech, the Wigan MP said the current system lacked "human empathy" and was too complicated for people to understand. The Wigan MP joins shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, having already got backing from the GMB union and the National Union of Mineworkers.
She said she would reverse cuts to the welfare system by ditching planned reductions in national insurance. To progress, hopefuls need the support of three unions and affiliate groups representing 5% of the membership.
She has been backed by Jess Phillips, who quit the race on Wednesday. Emily Thornberry and Rebecca Long-Bailey are yet to reach the threshold.
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. Jess Phillips quit the race to replace Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday.
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". Ms Phillips told reporters she would be giving her first preference vote to Ms Nandy, with Sir Keir her second choice.
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. She said shadow business secretary Mrs Long-Bailey was not the right leader for Labour at the moment, but "there's no reason to say she can't change."
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry is the fourth candidate in the race to replace outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn. Chinese for Labour chairwoman and Luton North MP Sarah Owen said: "Only in power can Labour make the radical changes that are so desperately needed for our towns and communities.
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". "We believe that Lisa is the right candidate to take us there."
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. Reacting to the endorsement, Ms Nandy said: "As someone of mixed heritage, I'm incredibly proud that it is Chinese for Labour who have secured my place on the ballot paper.
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". "They do incredibly important work to ensure we are a representative and inclusive party that can truly speak for modern Britain."
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. She said she was now "looking forward to getting out into the country and laying out my vision for reuniting the party".
"If you want to empower people, you have to put the support in," she added. Labour 'paternalistic'
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. Earlier in a speech, Ms Nandy said she would give claimants a bigger role in designing an "empowering" welfare system.
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. The current system lacked "human empathy" and was too complicated for people to understand, she said, promising to reverse cuts by ditching planned reductions in national insurance.
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. Speaking ahead of her speech 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".
As well as securing the support of GMB, Ms Nandy had already received the backing of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). The regime has tended to "see people as problems to be solved, not potential to be realised", she said, and urged the Labour Party to 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 that "treats people with dignity and respect".
Ms Nandy added that she supported the "principle" behind universal credit - to simplify the regime and encourage people into work - but "no support at all" had been offered to those being rolled onto it.
Mr Corbyn's successor - and the successor to his deputy, Tom Watson - will be announced on 4 April.
With Sir Keir's and Ms Nandy's places on the ballot secured, the two other candidates are locked in a battle to join him by securing support from local parties and affiliated groups.
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.
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. Watson's replacement
In the contest to find Labour's new deputy leader, only shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has received the required support so far.
She faces competition for the role from Scotland's only remaining Labour MP, Ian Murray, shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler, Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan and shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon.
Ms Rayner has been backed by the GMB union, NUM, Unison and Usdaw, while the BFAWU is supporting Mr Burgon.
Ms Phillips has endorsed Mr Murray, saying he has put forward "a positive vision not only for our party, but also for the country".
"He recognises that we can't just talk to ourselves - we must listen to voters in seats we held, seats we lost and seats we have never held," she said