AS the race to become Labour’s next leader gets underway the last city candidate and a former MP have been having their say on their preferred choice of the hopefuls.

The successor to Jeremy Corbyn will be named on April 4 and so far six candidates have put their names forward - Clive Lewis, Emily Thornberry, Jess Phillips, Lisa Nandy, Sir Keir Starmer, and Rebecca Long Bailey.

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Lynn Denham, who unsuccessfully fought for election to the city’s parliamentary seat in December, said she was not naming her preferred choice but described Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer, who visited Worcester a year ago, as a “genuinely nice chap.”

“I was hugely impressed,” Mrs Denham said.

“He explained the practicalities of Brexit in an understandable way. For a councillor getting her head around national issues, it was very useful.”

Mrs Denham said she had seen another candidate, Lisa Nandy, speak at a meeting held at a Labour Party conference, adding she was impressed with her, as she was “very grounded” in the way she spoke on the impact of austerity.

“I remember she said it was not about Brexit, it is about buses.”

Mrs Denham added other candidates, including Rebecca Long Bailey, made up a strong list of candidates fighting the election.

Meanwhile former city MP Mike Foster said of the candidates, his preferred choices would include current bookies favourites Keir Starmer.

“I think Keir has interesting things to say, I like Lisa Nandy and I’m impressed with Jess Phillips.

“Those are the three who stand out, they are the three who would make the party electable again - and move away from the Corbyn legacy.

“I think we all know how that ended up.”