BIRMINGHAM MP Khalid Mahmood on Tuesday announced his decision to stand to become Labour's new deputy leader.
Announcing his bid, Mahmood said his aim was to ensure that Labour was not London-centric. A former engineer who lives and works in the West Midlands, Mahmood believes he is the ideal candidate to win back lost votes and seats.
“Since our party’s election defeat I’ve received many requests urging me to stand so I’m throwing my hat in the ring,” said Mahmood, according to the Mirror.
“I represent a constituency in the West Midlands and as an engineer believe in reviving British manufacturing with hi-tech so I know what people want.
“I’m not part of the metropolitan elite but in Birmingham, the workshop of Britain. I want to rebuild our country and the Labour Party.”
Mahmood believes the way to move forward is to focus on the green jobs that can be created from engineering and manufacturing.
Other candidates vying for the post include Barry Gardiner, Richard Burgon and Angela Rayner.
The Labour MP has blamed the lack of a coherent message for the party's drubbing at the general election held on December 12.
“We didn’t have a coherent message. It was difficult for people to understand. The Conservatives had a clear message. Get Brexit done was simple to understand," he was quoted as saying by Birmingham Mail.
“People wanted to get out of this mess we have been in since 2016 and the Conservatives were promising that. Our policy was hard to explain.
He said Labour should analyse their mistakes and take the defeat as an opportunity to understand the needs of the people “we are meant to represent. ”
“We need to work with the grassroots, the base of the Labour Party, the working classes. That’s where we have lost those votes. We need to win them back.”
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During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)