Yahoo Movies Labour leadership candidate Lisa Nandy criticises BBC journalist Nick Robinson for asking 'daft question’
One of the contenders to be the next Labour leader lashed out at a senior BBC journalist this morning over a question about previous party leaders.
Lisa Nandy was asked by Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme who her favourite Labour leader was.
Ms Nandy remained diplomatic in her answer, telling Mr Robinson: “I think there are different leaders who’ve done different things for the party at different times…”
When Mr Robinson quipped that the question had been “carefully avoided”, Ms Nandy hit back: “Well if you don’t mind me saying so, it's a perfectly daft question.
“People are complex, and it’s perfectly possible to believe people can do both good and bad things.
“[Jeremy Corbyn] is someone I’ve profoundly disagreed with about a number of things over last few years but on the issue of whether we’re a more compassionate society and whether Labour should be clearer about that I couldn’t agree with him more.”
The interview took place the day after a poll was published showing that Labour members think Jeremy Corbyn has been the best party leader of the last century.
Pressed on whether Labour members were right to think that Corbyn was a better leader than Tony Blair, Ms Nandy responded: “It reflects the fact a lot of our members are quite loyal to the Labour party.
“I don’t think that he deserves to be trashed for a minute. It doesn’t help the Labour party either.
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“When you trash the Labour party all the public hears is that Labour is no good.
“Jeremy Corbyn has done a lot to move the conversation in the Labour party.”
Ms Nandy received a campaign boost on Tuesday after being backed by the influential GMB union, but she trails in the polls to Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey.
The backbencher, who quit her role on Labour’s front bench in 2016 in protest at Mr Corbyn’s leadership, also had a heated exchange with Piers Morgan this morning over allegation of racism against Meghan Markle.
After Mr Morgan reiterated his belief that negative press coverage of the Duchess os Sussex has nothing to do with racism, Ms Nandy hit back: “Well, if you don't mind me saying, how on earth would you know?
“As somebody who has never had to deal with ingrained prejudice you are not in a position to understand people who have.”
Ms Nandy is one of three women standing in the Labour leadership contest, alongside Rebecca Long-Bailey and Emily Thornberry.
Sir Keir Starmer, the only man in the contest, is the current favourite to win but has been urged to stand down by party chair Ian Lavery so that a woman can win.
