One of Manchester’s most outspoken backbench MPs, Simon Danczuk, has ruled out standing for the role of Labour’s deputy leader.
This morning he told journalists that ‘it’s come a bit too early for me’ as he decided to take his name out of the hat for the role previously occupied by Harriet Harman, who is now the acting leader of the party.
Mr Danczuk secured over a 12,000 majority in the parliamentary elections in his north Manchester constituency of Rochdale earlier in the month.
Immediately after his relection he scathingly commented on Labour’s election campaign, saying that the party needed to look at its mistakes.
“There’s been a certain approach to the general election campaign, not just in the short term campaign but in the longer campaign, too,” Danczuk said.
“Has that been right or has it been wrong? I think we have to look at that and see what mistakes were made. There’s no doubt about it – there were mistakes made, otherwise we wouldn’t see the results we’ve seen tonight.
“But now is not the time to reflect too deeply on it but over the next 24 hours, 48 hours I’ve no doubt the Labour party will be reflecting heavily on it.”
Just over a week ago, he said that ‘several colleagues’ had urged him to run for the job, with the election yet to be decided by party members.
Simon Danczuk on why he’s decided not to run for Labour’s deputy leadership. pic.twitter.com/jGohC5u0ma
— Emily Ashton (@elashton) May 20, 2015
Tipped as the favourite for deputy leader of Labour now is union stalwart Tom Watson, who has been the party MP for West Bromwich East for the past 14 years.
The current list of candidates running includes Exeter’s Ben Bradshaw; Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow; Angela Eagle, representing Wallasey; Don Valley MP Caroline Flint and Tom Watson.
Image courtesy of FSB, via YouTube, with thanks
