Phil Woolas Nominates Diane Abbott
Phil Woolas nominated Diane Abbott for the Labour leadership, but is still expected to back David Miliband.
Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas has nominated left-winger Diane Abbott for the Labour leadership. However, Mr Woolas is still expected to support his original choice of David Miliband.
Mr Woolas was one of several MPs who decided to back Ms Abbott in the final hours before the nominations closed this lunchtime, so she could reach the threshold of 33 MPs needed to take part in the contest proper. Mr Miliband, who already had more than enough backers, nominated her as well, as did the party’s stand-in leader Harriet Harman. Mrs Abbott also picked up supporters from the other left-wing candidate, John McDonnell, who took himself out of the running.
A total of five candidates will now contest the leadership election. Former Foreign Secretary Mr Miliband is joined by his brother Ed, who served as the Climate Change Secretary in the last government. There’s also ex-Schools Secretary Ed Balls, former Health Secretary Andy Burnham, and Ms Abbott. Ordinary party members and trades unionists will get to take part in the vote, with a result not due until the autumn.
The new MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, Jonny Reynolds, nominated David Miliband, as did Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk. Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher went for Ed Miliband. A full list of who nominated which candidate is available on the Labour Party website here.
When he originally backed David Miliband, Mr Woolas praised his “intelligence, leadership and politeness.” They previously worked closely together as ministers on local government issues. You can read more about that in a Saddleworth News article here.
(UPDATE 9/6: Paul Waugh from the Evening Standard has a good account of how Ms Abbott managed to get enough nominations here. He says Mr Woolas’ nomination was the 33rd and last that she received, and describes him as David Miliband’s “fixer” in the leadership contest.)
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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