Clive Lewis: Labour must lose 20th century mindset or the party will die

“Crucial debate”: Clive Lewis was expected to crash out of the leadership race after struggling to get the 22 backers needed
REUTERS

Shadow treasury minister Clive Lewis warned Labour it must “transform or die” as he prepared to be ejected from the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Lewis argued the party must change its mindset, which he said was stuck in the 20th century. The MP for Norwich South was expected to crash out of the leadership race today as he was struggling to secure the 22 backers needed to get on the ballot paper. But he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the contest was a “crucial debate” about Labour’s future.

He added: “It’s about whether we can turn ourselves around within five years and get back into government. When you look at the society we live in — we are no longer living in the Fifties. The vast majority of people are no longer in trade unions. They’ve shrunk — in part because of the attacks on them but there is a social and economic phenomenon. Our lives have changed and yet we still have a political party and a mindset which is set firmly in the 20th century.

“We have to get to the very basics of this, which is that society has changed and our party needs to change. If we don’t transform, then we’ll die.”

The contenders needed to secure the 22 nominations from Labour MPs and MEPs by 2.30pm today to go forward to the next stage of the contest.

Four candidates — Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips — already have the numbers required.

(Top, left to right) Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Keir Starmer, (bottom, left to right) Rebecca Long-Bailey, Clive Lewis and Emily Thornbury.
PA

The latest figures, released yesterday, put Emily Thornberry on 10 backers, while Mr Lewis had just four, including the nomination he gave himself. Ms Thornberry said she was “fairly confident” of making it, but Mr Lewis admitted getting the numbers was “hard”.

He added: “I understand it is difficult because I am talking about things which are hard for people to hear.”

In the parallel race for deputy leader, the shadow education secretary Angela Rayner and Labour’s only Scottish MP Ian Murray were through.

Ahead of this afternoon’s deadline, Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler and Rosena Allin-Khan were still fighting to get enough nominations.

In the next round of both contests, candidates need nominations from 33 local constituency parties or three Labour affiliates — including at least two trade unions—to enter the final postal ballot of party members and supporters. Left-wing activist group Momentum, which helped propel Mr Corbyn to the leadership in 2015, has recommended support for Ms Long-Bailey and Ms Rayner. His successor will be announced on April 4.