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Trade unionist candidate for Liverpool Mayor receives endorsement from socialist MPs

THE trade unionist contender to become Labour’s candidate in the Liverpool mayoral election has been backed by leading socialist MPs.

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, MPs Ian Lavery and Dawn Butler and Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti are supporting Councillor Anna Rothery, a long-standing member of Unite who would be the city’s first black leader if elected. She has been backed by the Unite and BFAWU unions so far.

Ms Rothery, who has held the ceremonial post of lord mayor of Liverpool since 2019, is one of three women shortlisted by Labour to be the party’s candidate in the May election. The others are acting Mayor Wendy Simon and Councillor Ann O’Byrne.

Former mayor Joe Anderson is currently bailed during an investigation into allegations of bribery and witness intimidation linked to construction deals in the city.

Mr Corbyn said: “I’m absolutely delighted to support Anna Rothery as our candidate to be Liverpool’s mayor.

He described her as “somebody who believes the Labour movement is empowered when it’s a community-based, community-organised and community-led party.”

Ms Rothery, the only candidate to have called for the whip to be restored to Mr Corbyn in Parliament, said: “As a working-class woman brought up in Toxteth, I’ve never been afraid to speak truth to power. I’ve never compromised on my principles and I’ve always followed my own path.”

“I am pleased to have Jeremy’s endorsement, I have been clear in my support for Jeremy over many years, and under his leadership the people of Liverpool delivered the city’s highest ever vote for Labour.

“I was proud to speak alongside Jeremy from the top of the fire engine in Liverpool City Centre in 2016 and will continue to call for the whip to be reinstated. Jeremy’s vision of a society run in the interests of the many, not the few, is one that I share.”

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