'You have NOT said the words' Labour MP ROASTED for failing to endorse Corbyn as next PM
FORMER shadow cabinet minister Liz Kendall has insisted she wants to have a Labour Prime Minister but was unable to endorse Jeremy Corbyn.
Liz Kendall can't bring herself to say she wants Corbyn to be PM
During a TV grilling on ITV’s Peston on Sunday, the Leicester West MP said she backed him to “get a Labour government” but avoided saying she wanted the Labour leader to replace Theresa May.
It comes after she finished fourth to Mr Corbyn in the race to become party leader following the resignation of Ed Miliband in 2015.
She then resigned from the shadow cabinet and returned to the backbenches.
Presenter Robert Peston asked: “You never wanted Jeremy Corbyn to lead you into a General Election, do you want him to become Prime Minister?”
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I don’t think there’s any secret Robert that I’ve had my differences with Jeremy in the past but I absolutely want him to get a Labour government
Ms Kendall replied: “Yes, I don’t think there’s any secret Robert that I’ve had my differences with Jeremy in the past but I absolutely want him to get a Labour government.”
The journalist pushed for an answer and repeated: “Do you want him to become Prime Minister?
“You haven’t said the words ‘I want him to be Prime Minister’.”
The politician evaded the question and said: “I want to have a Labour Prime Minister and I will do everything I can to support Jeremy and the entire Labour team in the next six weeks.”
Amused by the response, Peston added: “You’re still not saying the words, with all due respect.”
The MP hit back and said: “I want every single Labour MP returned and I would like us to be winning back seats too.”
The fiery exchange comes after Ms Kendall admitted her party faced the challenge demonstrating “strong leadership”.
She said: “I am under no illusions about how tough this election is going to be and I think the challenge for Jeremy and all of us in the party is to show how we will provide strong leadership.
“[And] how we will stand up for the majority of people unlike the Tories, who back the privileged few, and how we can set out a clear alternative both on Brexit and the economy and public services.”