Chuka Umunna and Emma Reynolds throw weight behind Kendall campaign

Two more Shadow Cabinet members have declared their support for Liz Kendall’s leadership campaign this morning. Chuka Umunna, who pulled out of the race himself a week and a half ago, and Shadow Local Government Secretary Emma Reynolds have co-written an article for the Staggers this morning, along with fellow shadow ministers Jonathan Reynolds and Stephen Twigg, outlining why they think Kendall is the right choice for leader.

The support of Umunna, who was considered a frontrunner in the contest, will be considered a major coup for Kendall’s campaign. Emma Reynolds nominated Ed Miliband in 2010, and has been considered loyal to his leadership – her backing will be used as further proof that Kendall is able to generate support across the party.

Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds had been the campaign chair for Umunna’s leadership campaign, and both his and Twigg’s endorsements suggest that Kendall will be able to get backing in northern seats. It has been suggested that Burnham and Cooper, both MPs in the north, would have dominance in those Labour heartlands.

In the article, they write:

“The job for the next Labour leader is to weave these imperatives, economic, social and global, into a credible national story of a country proud of its history and confident of owning the future. A vision of a Britain in which all can get on, whose citizens are financially secure and in control of their lives and happiness – and are, collectively, secure and effective in the wider world. A vision both rooted in the party’s eternal values and alive to the complexities and realities of the context in which we must now realise them.

For us, our next leader must get this vision right. On all these big subjects, Liz Kendall has asked the tough questions and started to chart a course to the answers. She has been courageous in challenging conventional wisdom. She has no compunction in moving Labour beyond our comfort zone and is determined to build a team ready to chart a route forward. This is exactly what our party needs and that is why we are nominating her to be the next leader of the Labour Party.”