Date: 22 July 2010
Usdaw, the shopworkers union, today announced they are backing Oona King in the race to become Labour's candidate for the Mayor of London election in 2012.
Their decision comes after
Oona King has been endorsed by twelve London MPs, including Jim
Fitzpatrick and Stella Creasy, several shadow cabinet members led
by Alan Johnson, and public figures including Lord Alli and Simon
Schama.
Usdaw's endorsement shows
how Oona King's campaign is building up support from across the
Labour movement and beyond.
John
Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary said:
"Usdaw is backing Oona
because we believe she represents a fresh start for Labour in
London and is the very best choice to secure the change in the
capital we want to see.
Oona is a longstanding
friend of Usdaw, a tireless campaigner who understands the needs
and aspirations of our members and a vibrant advocate who has
always championed our campaigns to improve workers lives.
The lack of decent
affordable housing is a key concern for our members in London and
Usdaw is particularly impressed with Oona's plans to urgently
address the capital's housing problems.
Oona's commitment to
make London a safer, more affordable and above all, fairer place to
live has already struck a chord with our members and we are
confident that Oona can deliver a Labour victory for
London."
Oona King
said:
"I am honoured and
delighted to receive the support of Usdaw, the UK's fourth biggest
trade union and one of the country's most forward looking and
effective campaigning organisations.
Today's decision
demonstrates the momentum my Mayoral campaign - based on a positive
vision for London's future - is building across the Labour movement
and beyond. I look forward to working with every one of Usdaw's
25,000 London members to take back City Hall.
Working with partners
like Usdaw will be crucial to taking forward my vision for of a
fairer capital, such as through a Mayor's Mortgage that will enable
more people to get on the housing ladder - and a register of all
landlords to start driving up standards in rented
accommodation.
We need to apply new
thinking and new ideas to change London for good and create and
maintain a world class city to invest, work and live in."
Notes for
Editors:
- Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied
Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest trade union, with over 389,000
members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the
union also has many members in transport, distribution, food
manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
- The decision to nominate Oona King was taken by the
Union's National Executive Council at its meeting held on Monday 19
July. The National Executive Council also agreed to make a donation
of £5,000 to Oona King's campaign fund.
- Over 25,000 Usdaw members in London pay the Union's
Political Levy and will therefore be entitled to a vote in the
ballot to decide who will be Labour's candidate for the Mayor of
London election in 2012. Usdaw will ballot these members in
September.
- Oona King is running against Ken Livingstone for the
right to be Labour's candidate. Voting will take place in two equal
electoral colleges - one of party members and a second of
affiliated trade unions and other socialist societies. The Labour
Party will declare the result of the ballot on 24
September.
- In compliance with Labour Party rules, Usdaw will declare
the result of its ballot of members after the announcement by the
Labour Party on 24 September.