Sebastian Payne

When will the Labour leadership contenders realise it’s the 2020 election they’re fighting?

Tonight’s Newsnight Labour leadership debate is a sink or swim moment for Liz Kendall. So far, there has been a lot of talk about Kendall’s candidacy and her potential to be a reforming leader. But until now, there hasn’t been a lot of proof to back that up. Some have been whispering that she doesn’t perform well under sustained pressure; others have likened her supporters to the Taliban. Either way, tonight’s debate is her opportunity to show that she is credible — as well as hopefully answering the crucial question of what, if anything, she stands for.

It’s a mistake to label Kendall as just the Blairite right-wing candidate. Again, she has the potential to have far broader appeal, what could be described as ‘New with a touch of red.’ For proof of that, here is an interesting blog by Brian Beck, a Marxist sociology lecturer, Labour activist and ‘the most left wing person I know’. He saw Kendall at a hustings in Cardiff last night and explains why he’s backing her for Labour leader:

‘Liz Kendall spoke with real passion and conviction, she really seemed to care about the state of our country and the problems we face. Liz Kendall was convincing. She was convincing in her answers to our country’s problems. She was convincing in her approach to repairing Labour’s record for economic competence. Most of all, she was convincingly sincere and passionate about her reasons for being in politics and what she wanted to achieve.’

‘If Liz Kendall had been leading the party at the last election, I believe that we would have been more successful. Being as Marxist as I am, I am incredibly surprised to find myself saying this; but, of all the candidates for the leadership, I currently find Liz Kendall to be the most impressive by far and I believe that if she becomes our new Labour leader, we have a very good chance of winning the next election.’

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