LABOUR figures in Northwich have welcomed the election of Sir Keir Starmer as the party's leader.

Sir Starmer, 57, was announced as the replacement for Jeremy Corbyn on Saturday, picking up 56 per cent of Labour members' votes ahead of Rebecca Long-Bailey on 28 per cent and Lisa Nandy on 16 per cent.

Following the result, Mike Amesbury, Labour MP for Weaver Vale, hailed his victory – and the election of Angela Rayner as deputy leader – as 'a new era for Labour and British politics'.

He said: "Keir and Angela have received a strong mandate from our huge membership base and affiliates up and down the country.

"I nominated and voted for them both because I believe they will unite our party, build a strong team and quickly create an effective opposition and vision for an alternative government.

"The immediate task is to provide the serious leadership required to respond to the coronavirus crisis. Keir will provide a forensic and considered challenge to the government to quickly get the nation in the right place on testing, personal protective equipment, financial support and resources."

"Angela will build a professional community focused Labour party, that brings home many voters that have lost faith in us and want an active government that is on their side, in the new political landscape.

Northwich Guardian:

Angela Rayner, the party's new deputy leader. Image: PA

"I look forward to working with them both in these challenging times and beyond."

Sir Starmer became a barrister in 1987, was appointed as Queen's Counsel in 2002 and spent five years as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008.

He has served as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, in London, since May 2015 – serving as shadow immigration minister from September 2015, before being named shadow Brexit secretary from October 2016.

The result has also been welcomed by Northwich's Labour councillors.

Cllr Sam Naylor, Cheshire West and Chester councillor for Witton, said: "I think it is good news for the Labour Party and good news for the country.

"Hopefully he will build a team that has got credibility – not making criticism for criticism's sake, but to be constructive."

Cllr Kate Cernik, CWAC member for Winnington and Castle, said: "Hopefully the Labour party can move forward now in a united way.

"I think he has an impressive background in terms of his previous experience of having a job in the real world and he has proved himself to be a very effective speaker."

Cllr Andrew Cooper, CWAC member for Leftwich, added: "I voted for Lisa Nandy and had Keir as second preference, but I am very happy he won.

READ > Police ‘disappointed’ to hear reports of groups gathering in Northwich

"He is clearly very competent and is going to be a safe pair of hands. He is a bright man and I think that the party has a bright future."