We need an army of people caring.

Thank you so much to all 46,150 members of the Labour Party who voted for me for the NEC [National Executive Committee].

Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to win this time but we are taking the message.

I came fourth. It’s quite a resounding vote actually for the things I was standing for: - Fairness - Innocent until proven guilty - Stop suspensions before investigation.

In terms of the leadership election, 56% of Labour members voted for Kier Starmer and we need to reflect on that. I hope that Sir Kier Starmer stands up for the key issues of our time.

Right now, people are dying from coronavirus. We need adequate protection for our frontline warriors in this war against the disease.

They need PPE [Personal Protection Equipment].

They need testing.

They need their voices to be heard, listened to and responded to.

Nurses, care workers, cleaners, you name it - we need an army of people caring not an army of soldiers.

This government has prepared us well for war and Trident but they have not prepared us for public health. And that’s why we need Labour to hold the Tories to account.

I would rather have won the NEC election but the fight continues. We are all in this for the long term.

It’s not like we get to leave our lives behind or justice gets to walk away. We have to fight for that. It’s like Jeremy Corbyn said in his letter to us all. “We can have a society based on justice, equality and care for the environment. But it will not come about unless we fight for it”. That’s what we are going to do together.

Clipped from the excellent, twice weekly 'Stay Home For Labour' leadership election special on 6 April 2020

08 April 2020