Luke Foley is new leader of the NSW Labor Party

LUKE Foley has been elected unopposed as leader of the NSW Labor Party.

Labor MP Luke Foley announces he will stand for leader of the Opposition after current leader John Robertson was sacked last week after it emerged he signed a letter of support for Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis. Luke pictured at Cathy Freeman Park at Homebush. Picture: Toby Zerna

LUKE Foley has been elected unopposed as leader of the NSW Labor Party.

In a statement released by NSW Labor general secretary Jamie Clements, he confirmed Mr Foley was elected unopposed.

“I can announce that just moments ago Luke Foley was unanimously endorsed by caucus as the new state leader of our Party. Luke has a proud record as a man who has always fought for social justice in the Parliament and stuck by his Labor values.

“We look forward to the months ahead — where we’ll be working with Luke and the entire Labor team to make sure we get a government after March that puts people first.”

Despite not yet holding a seat in the lower house of parliament, Mr Foley, 44, won the vote after securing the support of the ALP’s head office.

Mr Foley had the backing of the ALP’s head office. Picture: Toby Zerna

His only rival, shadow treasurer Michael Daley, pulled out of the running last week after realising he didn’t have the numbers. The process has been slammed by party elder Michael Egan as “preposterous”.

He has accused the party’s unelected “faceless men” of threatening and intimidating Labor MPs to support Mr Foley.

After his expected elevation to leader, Mr Foley will focus on winning a seat in the lower house of parliament.

He’s expected to push to become the ALP’s candidate for the western Sydney seat of Auburn, now held by Labor’s Barbara Perry. Mr Foley is leader of the opposition in the upper house and shadow environment minister.

He is a devout Catholic who opposes gay marriage and a self-described rugby league and cricket tragic.

The party’s leadership was vacated when John Robertson admitted to writing a letter on behalf of Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis in 2011 as his local MP.