Progress founder Liam Byrne has won selection as Labour’s candidate for the forthcoming West Midlands mayoral election, crossing the line on second-preference votes to beat rivals Salma Yaqoob and Pete Lowe.
The right-winger benefited last year from a bizarre endorsement by Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell – although Momentum’s Jon Lansman angrily denied offering Byrne his or Momentum’s support. Byrne was also backed by former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson and right-leaning unions.
Byrne now faces Tory mayor Andy Street in the contest, although an election with two white men as the principal contenders in one of the UK’s most ethnically-diverse areas will raise eyebrows.
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