Local pub visit for labour leader hopeful

A labour leadership hopeful visited Hucknall this week as part of a tour of the country to launch her bid to be Labour’s first ever elected woman leader.
Léonie Mathers, Yvette Cooper MP and Vernon Coaker MP behind the bar at George Street Working Men's ClubLéonie Mathers, Yvette Cooper MP and Vernon Coaker MP behind the bar at George Street Working Men's Club
Léonie Mathers, Yvette Cooper MP and Vernon Coaker MP behind the bar at George Street Working Men's Club

Yvette Cooper, MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford, spent time on Friday listening to opinions from some of the party’s newest members on what labour needs to do to win back people in Hucknall at the next general election in 2020.

Ms Cooper heard how the party needed an optimistic plan for Britain’s future, and to show how a labour government would help create and promote decent jobs and pay, while holding the conservative government to account.

She said: “Renewal of the Labour Party won’t be driven from Westminster, but by the new ideas and innovation from within our party and across the country.

“We had a great discussion here in Hucknall, with a lot of strong views being put forward.

“It’s clear that although people like what we had to offer on zero hour contracts and ending the bedroom tax, we needed to do more to show how we would meet the ambitions of all families.”

The leadership contender was joined by Léonie Mathers, Hucknall’s labour candidate in the general election last month, and Gedling’s MP Vernon Coaker, in the packed bar at George Street Working Men’s Club.

Ms Mathers said:“I know a lot of people in Hucknall were disappointed with the result last month and it’s good to see so many are now keen to get involved and help move the Labour Party forward.

“Yvette brought a real spark to our discussion about the future.

“It’s great that she has decided to launch her campaign for leader by listening to us here today.”

“It’s really important that those at the top of politics listen to people in towns like ours.”