Former deputy Labour leader Tom Watson has said he is concerned possible leadership candidate Rebecca Long-Bailey would lose the party another election.

Mr Watson, who resigned from politics ahead of December's disastrous election for the party, called the shadow business secretary the "continuity candidate" because of her closeness to Jeremy Corbyn.

The former MP, who often clashed with the current Labour leader, was speaking ahead of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee deciding on when the leadership election will be and other key elements for replacing Mr Corbyn.

Image: Rebecca Long-Bailey is expected to throw her hat in the Labour leadership ring

He told Sky News: "I don't know who I'm going to vote for and there's one or two I'd be worried about.

"I guess the one I would worry about - but I don't know what she stands for - when I look at Rebecca Long-Bailey, she's the continuity candidate, she stands for Corbynism in its purest sense.


"That's perfectly legitimate but we have lost two elections in that play.

"She hasn't said anything yet and she hasn't formally announced.

"But, she might chime a different note in her opening bid and say she wants to take the party in a different direction and she's very candid about what went wrong.

Image: Tom Watson resigned as Jeremy Corbyn's deputy

"In which case I think she's in a good place to shift things around."

Mr Watson also said he thinks MPs who were in Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet over the past three years - a group that includes Ms Long-Bailey - will struggle to get the votes from members.

"I think the guys that were in the shadow cabinet have a harder task because they have to explain why they signed up to manifestos that lost us two elections," he said.

"They've got to explain why Labour loses elections and what we've got to do to win."

Image: Keir Starmer and Jess Phillips are running to be Labour leader

Ms Long-Bailey has not yet formally declared she is running for the leadership, but is expected to this week.

Shadow education Angela Rayner launched her candidacy for deputy leader in Stockport on Monday, where she said she will support her longtime friend Ms Long-Bailey for leader, if she declares.

Richard Burgon, shadow justice secretary, has also backed Ms Long-Bailey and said he will run for deputy leader.

Image: Lisa Nandy, who is running, said Labour has an issue with trust

Labour MPs who have thrown their hat in the leadership ring so far are:

Jess Phillips - a prominent backbencher who has hinted she would possibly rejoin the EU if she became prime minister and has often criticised Mr Corbyn

Keir Starmer - the shadow Brexit secretary, more of a centrist than Mr Corbyn and current favourite who campaigned to remain in the EU

Emily Thornberry - the shadow foreign secretary who blamed the recent election defeat on the manifesto, adding "there was just too much in it"

Lisa Nandy - the Wigan MP who said trust was the major issue for Labour and the fact it was trying to be radical instead of relevant.