Boost for Yvette Cooper in the battle for second place – the New Statesman gives her its endorsement
This could help her in the spat with Burnham
The influential left-wing magazine, the New Statesman has announced that it is endorsing Yvette Cooper for Labour leader. Given how far Mr. Corbyn is ahead this is probably only significant in her fight with Andy Burnham for the runner-up slot which could be important if Corbyn fails to stay the course.
In an editorial in tomorrow’s edition the magazine states:-
“…Labour remains traumatised by an election defeat that it never saw coming and by Ed Miliband’s hasty resignation, which plunged the party into a leadership contest for which it was not prepared. The temptation for some is to write the next election off in advance and elect the candidate who provides most consolation. This must be resisted. History teaches that even the strongest governments can unravel with remarkable speed, which is why Labour must be in a position to offer a credible alternative. The best hope of it being able to do so, in the present circumstances, is the election of Yvette Cooper.
We say this knowing that Mr Corbyn is the clear front-runner and the likely next leader. Yet there are important elections next year in London, Wales and Scotland. If Mr Corbyn’s Labour Party performs poorly in each of these and its present dire position in the polls remains unchanged – and if civil war has broken out in the parliamentary party – his leadership will be in grave danger. Ms Cooper’s moment may yet come..”
My view is that that is the correct decision. She’s a much more substantial politician than Burnham and Corbyn.