Ben Bradshaw set to run for deputy leader of Labour party
Labour’s Ben Bradshaw is set to run for the deputy leader for the Labour party – after buying up a number of domains related to the move.
There are two vacancies at the top of the Labour party, with leader Ed Miliband resigning after last week’s election defeat, and deputy Harriet Harman also set to step down.
The MP, who was dropped from the Shadow Cabinet by Mr Miliband in 2010, is reportedly set to make a play to become the party’s deputy leader.
According to MailOnline, Mr Bradshaw’s former special adviser Lenny Shallcross has purchased the website domains www.ben4deputy.co.uk and www.ben4labour.co.uk – giving away his leadership aspirations.
He is still yet to make an official announcement, and is thought to be consulting with his local party before making the move public.
However, a source said: “Ben is seriously considering a bid for deputy leadership to give a voice to those areas Labour won in 1997, 2001 and 2005 [that] we have to win back to have any chance in 2020.
“In England, Wales and Scotland, despite great candidates, Labour failed to take seats we had to win to form a government. The party has to address the reasons we lost. We have to renew our offer, to respond to people’s aspirations and to regain the trust of the British people.
“Ben trebled his majority in Exeter at this election in a former safe Tory city. He won votes off the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. He has shown Labour can win in the south. Any announcement Ben makes will be first made to his local Labour party.”
He could be the second out candidate for the role, with Angela Eagle also mulling a leadership bid.
Mr Bradshaw caused a stir at the PinkNews Awards last year – when he heckled Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan.
The Labour MP defended shouting at the Tory minister for voting against same-sex marriage, claiming “she was lucky not to be heckled twice”.
