Laborer's Emily Thornberry accuses former MP Caroline Flint of 'making up s ***' about her – Sky News, Sky.com
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A senior Labor frontbencher has launched legal action against a former parliamentary colleague, accusing her of “making up s ***” about her in a television interview.
(Caroline Flintclaimed in a Sky News interviewon Sunday that Emily Thornberry once said to a fellow MP that she was “glad my constituents aren’t as stupid as yours “.
Ms Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary andpotential leadership contender, Labeled the claim a “total and utter lie” and gave Ms Flint, the former MP for Don Valley, until the end of the day to withdraw the allegation.
The contest to replace him will officially start on 7 January, with a successor in place by the end of March.
Asked if she would be running, Ms Thornberry said her focus was on Monday’s funeral of Frank Dobson, the party’s former health secretary, who died last month.
Another potential contender is Sir Keir Starmer, the party’s Brexit spokesman.
He did not rule out a leadership bid, saying: “This is a moment for reflection. We’re talking to lots of colleagues, the competition does not open until early next year.”
Wigan MP Lisa Nandy has said she is “seriously thinking” about running to succeed Mr Corbyn, while shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, and Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips could also enter the contest.
Labor is also due to elect a new deputy leader following Tom Watson’s decision not to stand for re-election.
(Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon has told Sky News he is considering a bid for the deputy leadership role in tandem with Ms Long-Bailey’s bid for leader.
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