Reggae band UB40 have given Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn their backing in the new leadership race (Image: UB40/Facebook)
Legendary Birmingham reggae group UB40 appear to have endorsed Jeremy Corbyn, congratulating him on his recent victory after the Labour NEC yesterday declared that the incumbent party leader would be allowed to appear on the leadership ballot.
Jeremy Corbyn will be automatically included on the ballot in Labour’s leadership contest, the party’s National Executive Committee has ruled. His opponents had initially claimed he needed the support of 51 MPs or MEPs to stand.
Following the announcement that he had made it onto the ballot, city band UB40 congratulated Corbyn on his success by leaving him a message on his Facebook page, under a video the Labour leader posted following the NEC decision.
Birmingham reggae band UB40 have congratulated Jeremy Corbyn on his ballot success for the Labour leadership contest (Image: Jeremy Corbyn/Facebook)
The band wrote: “Congratulations on the result Jeremy Corbyn! Big Love, UB40.”
Mr Corbyn said he was “delighted” with the result of the meeting of the NEC, which also imposed restrictions on who could vote in the contest.
Jeremy Corbyn’s Facebook page, where UB40 left their message of support (Image: Jeremy Corbyn/Facebook)
The latest contest for the Labour leadership was set into motion after former shadow minister Angela Eagle announced she would be running for party leader, only weeks after quitting her post in Corbyn’s cabinet.
Eagle’s campaign, however, got off to a shaky start after journalists abandoned her press conference in favour of Andrea Leadsom‘s announcement that she was quitting the Conservative party leadership race.
She was then left seemingly uncomfortable and embarrassed on the BBC’s Sunday Politics, when unable to answer presenter Andrew Neil’s question about the differences between her and Corbyn’s key policies.
Many have criticised Angela Eagle’s political voting record after it emerged she voted against foundation hospitals, voted for the Iraq war – which has been deemed illegal by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan – and she then voted against an inquiry into the Iraq war. She also abstained from voting on the widely-condemned Tory welfare bill, which called for “a reduction of the household welfare cap from £26,000 to £23,000, abolishing legally binding child poverty targets, cuts to child tax credits, cuts to Employment and Support Allowance, and cuts to housing benefit for young people”.
Following the announcement that Corbyn will automatically be on the ballot, ex-shadow cabinet minister Owen Smith has also said he will stand in the contest.
Although Jeremy Corbyn has been allowed on the ballot, new restrictions have been applied following a urge in support for the current party leader. Only those who joined Labour on or before 12 January will be able to vote in the leadership contest. Anyone who joined after then will have to pay an extra £25 to become a “registered supporter” – and will get a two-day window in which to do so.
Public support for Jeremy Corbyn – including in Birmingham – has surged following recent resignations by members of his shadow cabinet (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Corbyn’s support has surged following recent news of a leadership challenge, with an estimated 60,000 people joining the Labour party in the week after select members of his shadow cabinet quit, with many speculating the departures were part of a planned coup. The party membership is currently higher than its last peak, seen under Tony Blair’s leadership in the 1990s.
Supporters rallying for Jeremy Corbyn in Birmingham last week (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Birmingham city councillor Sharon Thompson is backing Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour party (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
Events have been taking place across the country, with pro-Corbyn rallies organised by supporters, voters, community groups and grassroots Labour movement, Momentum.
Jeremy Corbyn at a rally in Birmingham last year at the Bordesley Centre, which was attended by so many people, they were over-spilling onto the stairwells and adjacent halls (Photograph: Adam Yosef)
In Birmingham, hundreds of people came out to support Jeremy Corbyn last Thursday, gathering in Victoria Square with banners, cheers and chants. Several Birmingham city councillors backing Corbyn, including Cllr Sharon Thompson and Cllr Majid Mahmood, spoke at the event alongside prominent city activists and community campaigners.
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UB40 will be performing at The Summer Fest in Tudor Grange Park in Solihull on Saturday 27th August.
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