Jo Cox’s sister chosen as Labor by-election candidate for former seat of slain MP | Political news

The sister of murdered MP Jo Cox is due to be the Labor candidate in the Batley and Spen by-election, a poll that could determine whether Sir Keir Starmer survives as party leader.

Kim Leadbeater, 44, who only recently joined the Labor Party, will defend the seat once held by Ms Cox.

Until recently it was occupied by former Coronation Street actress Tracy Brabin, who stepped down as an MP after being elected to the new post of West Yorkshire Underground Mayor.

In a crucial intervention this weekend, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and favorite to succeed Sir keir as party leader she backed Ms Leadbeater, saying she was “not a typical politician” and “exactly the kind of voice Labor needs”.

Ms Brabin had a majority of 3,525 over the Tories in the December 2019 general election, but after the Tories’ spectacular Hartlepool by-election victory they are the favorites for another “Red Wall” triumph.

This would almost certainly trigger action from left-wing critics of Sir Keir in the party and unions to oust him, Jeremy Corbyn’s close ally Diane Abbott already predicting a Labor by-election defeat “surely must be curtains “for Sir Keir.

Ms Leadbeater is an ambassador for the Jo cox Foundation, leader of the community volunteer group More in Common Batley and Spen and received an MBE in New Year’s Honors for his work on combating social isolation during the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “I am overwhelmed and amazed by the support and faith of the Batley and Spen members. I am ready to take over and spread the word about the Labor campaign to the local people.”

Speaking at the constituency meeting, Ms Leadbeater added: ‘I am a proud Yorkshire woman and have lived in Batley and Spen all my life.