MPs clamour for more on Gardiner’s leadership challenge

Gardiner’s denial does nothing to dampen interest and hope – and others report same ‘rumours’

Labour MPs desperate for an end to the tenure of the worst ‘leader’ in the party’s history have begun clamouring for more information about a possible challenge to Starmer’s position by Brent North MP Barry Gardiner.

Gardiner, the party’s star media performer and an MP with a genuine appeal across a broad left spectrum, even denied reports that left MPs were urging him to gather the nominations required to force a leadership contest – but Skwawkbox has received appeals from a number of enthusiastic MPs for more information on the challenge and how much support it has from other MPs and from unions.

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This is news to me and not true. Our party must keep its focus on the Tories and the chaos they are causing in our country. https://t.co/RaqVjQMGzI

— Barry Gardiner (@BarryGardiner) October 5, 2021

The common thread in all of them is a high regard for Gardiner’s integrity and ability, underlined by a recognition that Starmer’s disastrous regime cannot be allowed to continue.

And reports from MPs about the growing support for a Gardiner move have started to reach other ears in the movement, independently of Skwawkbox’s exclusive:

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Hearing rumours that a few MPs are encouraging Barry Gardiner to stand against Keir Starmer in a leadership challenge.

Whether or not he’ll do it is another question but it’s likely he’ll be able to get 40 nominations and he wants unity as he wants the whip restored to Corbyn.

— George Aylett (@GeorgeAylett) October 5, 2021

Gardiner’s integrity, his long history of solid service to the movement, his commitment to the people who depend on it, his grasp of information and his cordial demolition of errant hacks, interviewers and Tory politicians make him an attractive prospect to a wide spectrum of MPs desperate for an end to the dreary, self-defeating gruel of non-opposition constantly served up by the current occupants of the top table – and desperate for someone with a real vision and convictions to offer to voters in this country.

Desperate for hope and a credible leader to take to the people.

And his denial has done nothing to put a lid on that burgeoning hope and appetite – or to end the reports that it’s ‘on’.

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