Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has expressed his delight at the election of Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner as the leader and deputy leader of the Labour Party.
Starmer was elected with an overall majority of 56.2% of votes on the first round, beating Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy.
Rayner, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, defeated four other candidates for the deputy leadership, winning on the third round of voting.
Andrew Gwynne nominated and campaigned for both Starmer and Rayner. The Denton and Reddish Constituency Labour Party also backed the two winning candidates.
Andrew Gwynne said:
“I backed Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner as the team that could bring both our party and our country back together and I am absolutely delighted that Labour members, supporters and affiliates have elected them as our new leader and deputy leader.
“With Keir and Angela leading our party, I believe that we are on the road back to becoming a credible opposition, able to speak to the country and to secure the Labour Government that Britain so desperately needs.
“The Coronavirus crisis is obviously the first priority for the country right now and I am glad that Keir has committed to working with the Government to support our country through this period. His talent, authority and expertise will prove indispensable in the weeks and months to come.
“As a neighbouring MP, I am particularly pleased that my good friend Angela Rayner will be a voice from Tameside at the very top of our party.”