Ian Austin slams Rebecca Long Bailey's 'hopeless' pitch for Labour leadership

Ian Austin, who quit Labour and endorsed the Tories ahead of the general election, has delivered a withering assessment of the shadow business secretary's bid to replace Jeremy Corbyn.

Ms Long Bailey, a key ally of Mr Corbyn's, insisted Labour's dismal performance at the ballot box was down to "a failure of campaign strategy, not of our socialist programme".

She also claimed the Green New Deal she developed was popular in the West Midlands and would have seen her party fare better had it been a core part of Labour's manifesto.

Former Dudley North MP Mr Austin described her comments as "hopeless" and "utter rubbish", and said that her election as leader would see Labour endure more years in the political wilderness.

"This is how Labour loses the next elections as well as the last ones," he said.

He also mocked Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery's decision to back Ms Long Bailey for leader, describing it as "the endorsement no one would want".

Mr Austin says Labour were rejected by the British public due to the "dreadful" leadership of Mr Corbyn, who he has accused of "poisoning" the party with racism, extremism and intolerance.

Ms Long Bailey's suitability for the leadership position has also been questioned by Labour's former deputy leader Tom Watson, who described her as standing for "Corbynism in its purest sense".

She is one of six candidates battling for the position. The winner of the contest is set to be announced on April 4.