LSESU Labour has chosen its preferred candidates for the upcoming Labour Party election. The two chosen candidates are; Rebecca Long-Bailey, current Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, who was endorsed as Leader with 56,5% of the votes and Dawn Butler, current Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, endorsed as deputy leader with 81,8% of the votes.
The endorsement took place through a members’ vote on 13 February, and gathered around 40 to 50 people, including members and nonmembers who wished to attend and learn more about the political society.
Other candidates like Emily Thornberry and Richard Burgon respectively reached 4,4% and 0% of members’ votes. According to the society’s committee, the poor results can be attributed to the two candidates’ inability to appeal to young voters.
LSESU Labour told The Beaver that they did not want to campaign or endorse candidates without first conducting a members’ vote. Chloe Forletta, (2nd year LLB Bachelor of Laws), Melissa Pittman (2nd year BSc International Social and Public Policy), and George Baker (2nd year LLB Bachelor of Laws), respectively Co-chairs and Secretary of the society, emphasized that socialism, inclusivity, diversity and acceptance are the prime values the society wants to push forward. The two candidates that were endorsed seem to represent those ideals perfectly, with strong social, inclusive and progressive tendencies, Forletta, Pittman and Baker added.
