has unveiled a series of
new appointments today with the aim of creating a team that
will work to “transform the culture and practices of the Labour
Party for the better.”
In her role as Labour’s new deputy leader, Rayner has made a
start on plans to implement commitments in the ‘Manifesto for a
Movement’ document launched during her campaign.
The MP for Ashton-under-Lyne vowed to build a ‘Labour
Community’, like “LinkedIn for Labour”, fundraise to set up
Labour Organising Academies and create a new party culture.
She intends to kick-start this project with the help of a new
team consisting of the following Labour MPs:
-
, who will
lead on equality and inclusion within the party in addition
to her role as Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary
-
, who will act as
parliamentary private secretary to the deputy leader in
Rayner’s role as Shadow First Secretary of State
-
, who will act as
parliamentary private secretary to the deputy leader in her
role as party chair
-
, who will work
alongside the party chair as parliamentary lead (party
development)
-
, who will work
alongside the party chair as parliamentary lead (campaigns
and organisation)
Announcing the appointments, Rayner said: “Both and I have made clear our
determination to transform the culture and practices of the
Labour Party for the better, and these appointments are an
early step to do so.
“Even in opposition, we can show we live our values as a party
and put ourselves on a footing to win elections in every corner
and nation of our country.”
“Our frontbench shows the full range of talent that our party
has to offer, and I’m delighted to be working with such a
brilliant group of MPs in my role as deputy leader.
“We are already hard at work dealing with the current national
crisis, holding the government to account and putting forward a
positive vision. My team and I won’t stop working until we have
the Labour government our country so desperately needs.”
Rayner’s BAME
manifesto promised to “support the reformation and
reinvigoration of BAME Labour… setting a clear date for a
‘re-launch’, with renewed and transparent democratic processes
supported by central party resources”.
It also backed the idea of a national BAME members conference,
pledging to set a date for the opening conference “with clear
rules on policy-making powers and internal elections”.
De Cordova is expected to shortly convene projects on BAME and
disability issues, including the relaunch of the
party-affiliated BAME Labour organisation that has recently
received been criticised by
activists.
Commenting on her appointment, Siddiq
told LabourList: “Angela and I became MPs at the
same time and we became friends quickly. I’m delighted to be
part of her team because we have a huge job on our hands if we
want to form the next government.”
The MP for Hampstead and Kilburn added: “I’ve known Sam since
our Young Labour days so I’m pleased to be working with him to
shape the party’s policy development going forward.”
Siddiq was active in the party’s youth wing and helped to
orchestrate Tarry’s takeover of the organisation against the
wishes of Progress-aligned Labour activists at the time.
As parliamentary leads for the party chair, London MPs Siddiq
and former TSSA officer Tarry will work on Rayner’s behalf on
party development, campaigns and organisation.
Siddiq has retains her early years role, which she also held
when Rayner headed Labour’s education team, while Tarry of the
2019 intake – who chaired Rayner’s deputy leadership campaign –
is Ed Miliband’s parliamentary private secretary.
New parliamentary private secretaries Johnson and Mishra were
also both elected to parliament for the first time in December
2019, and they are both closely associated with UNISON – like
Rayner.
Courtesy of Sienna Rodgers, editor of LabourList.
