Labour Party cancels leadership hustings in Leeds after Sir Keir Starmer attends family emergency

The Labour Party's leadership hustings in Leeds has been cancelled after Sir Keir Starmer announced he was suspending his campaign.
By Susie Beever
Published 24th Jan 2020, 11:22 BST
Updated 24th Jan 2020, 11:23 BST
Sir Keir StarmerSir Keir Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer

The event was scheduled to take place at the Royal Armouries at Leeds Docks on Saturday morning.

The Labour Party announced on Friday morning that Sir Keir Starmer had pulled out of Saturday's event due to his mother-in-law being critically ill in hospital.

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Mr Starmer, who is currently leading the polls to take over the leadership from Jeremy Corbyn, announced on Thursday that he was suspending campaigning following his mother-in-law being involved in a serious accident.

The Royal Armouries at Leeds Docks, where the Labour leadership hustings was due to take place on Saturday morningThe Royal Armouries at Leeds Docks, where the Labour leadership hustings was due to take place on Saturday morning
The Royal Armouries at Leeds Docks, where the Labour leadership hustings was due to take place on Saturday morning

Also assumed to be attending were candidates Lisa Nandy, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Emily Thornberry.

General secretary Jennie Formby said that the party's procedures committee had agreed Saturday's hustings should not go ahead in order to ensure fairness to all the candidates.

The deputy leadership hustings, which involves Leeds East MP Richard Burgon, as well as Angela Rayner, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Dawn Butler and Ian Murray, will still go ahead on Saturday afternoon.

Related topics:Keir StarmerLeedsLabour PartyJeremy Corbyn