Rebecca Long-Bailey backed as new Labour leader by North West Cambridgeshire branch

Rebecca Long-Bailey has been overwhelmingly backed to be the new Labour leader by the North West Cambridgeshire branch of the party.

By Joel Lamy

Published 5th Feb 2020, 05:00 BST

Outgoing leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn and Rebecca Long-Bailey. Photo: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor PPP-200115-162619003

A ballot of members in the constituency - which covers large parts of Peterborough - saw the Shadow Business Secretary comfortably win at the first preference stage.

Angela Rayner was also endorsed to be the next deputy leader following a close result which saw plenty of votes for Richard Burgon and Dawn Butler.

It required second and third preference votes to be counted before the Shadow Education Secretary came out on top.

Both preferred candidates are different to those endorsed by the Peterborough Labour Party which is backing Keir Starmer as leader and Mr Burgon as deputy.