Momentum has launched a lobbying campaign for Labour Party members to write to their MPs urging them nominate Bell Ribeiro-Addy as Deputy Labour Leader. This is to ensure a proper debate about the Party’s future.

Ribeiro-Addy must receive 80 nominations from the PLP to make it to the next stage of the contest. Campaigning on issues from Gaza to welfare cuts, Bell is calling for a change of direction from the Labour Government and for more democracy and pluralism inside the Party.

Sasha Das Gupta, Momentum Co-Chair, said: “Bell is a principled socialist and impassioned proponent of real Labour values.  From dire poll numbers to the threat from the far right, Bell is campaigning for the Government to change course. It is vital members are given the opportunity to debate the issues she is raising throughout this race.”

As reported yesterday, MPs John McDonnell, Nadia Whittome, Richard Burgon, Andy McDonald and Brian Leishman are backing Bell. Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott MP is backing the campaign too and yesterday Jon Trickett MP also nominated her for Deputy Leader.

Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP Steve Witherden has also announced he is supporting Bell. “Bell has my full support,” he said. “We need a strong, principled backbencher who will speak up for real Labour values. The party has to urgently deliver the progressive change the country voted for. This starts with defending the values we believe in instead of ceding ground to the right.”

In an interview with Politics Home, Bell denied that the Labour left could be considered dead if she was not able to get enough support from her colleagues to proceed. Referring to the statements made so far by the other candidates in the race, she said: “If the left in the Labour Party was dead, then I’m not sure if they would be leaning that way in their pitches.”

Bell Ribeiro-Addy is the only Black MP to have put themselves forward so far. On the subject of calls for diversity, she said: “I don’t think there’s much value in being a face in the space if you’re not going to stand up for that particular community. Diversity is good, but representation is ultimately better.”

Bell’s platform includes a wealth tax, opposing “genocide, and calling it genocide” in Gaza, and “treating migrants with some dignity”. Her voting record in Parliament reflects these priorities.

Ask your MP to nominate Bell. They don’t have to agree with everything she stands for – it’s about having a proper, broad and inclusive debate about our Party’s future. Use the lobbying tool here: mtm.is/nominatebell