THE starting gun has been fired on the race to succeed Angela Rayner as deputy leader of the Labour Party.
Nominations must be in by September 11 for MPs or September 27 for constituency branches and affiliated societies. The tight deadlines, coupled with a high bar for getting on the ballot paper has led to accusations of a “stitch up” by Labour high command.
The ballot opens on October 8 and the winner will be unveiled on October 25.
Who might be in the Labour deputy leadership contest?
MPs are reportedly already canvassing support. They must gain the backing of 80 MPs and at least 5% of constituency Labour branches or at least three affiliates, at least two of which must be trade unions, comprising 5% of “fully paid up affiliated membership” as of December 31, 2024.
David Lammy: The former foreign secretary was demoted to Justice Secretary in Keir Starmer’s reshuffle last week but was given the sweetener of becoming Deputy Prime Minister. Rayner’s power came from her dual role as Starmer’s deputy in Government and in the party, with a mandate from members.
Alison McGovern: A former Department for Work and Pensions minister, she has now been reshuffled to housing. She is a big fan of former prime minister Gordon Brown, previously revealing that she had her “first serious drink” in celebration of him becoming chancellor in 1997. She also served as Brown’s last parliamentary private secretary.
Rosena Allin-Khan: She came second in the last deputy leader contest and is considering another go. She previously rebelled on welfare reforms and has been critical of the Government’s policy on Gaza, which could go a long way with fed up rank-and-file members.
Emily Thornberry: The Foreign Affairs Committee chair has confirmed she is weighing up a run. She has a personal gripe with Starmer given that she was snubbed when Labour came to power having served loyally in the shadow cabinet. Thornberry (below) made the headlines over the weekend after telling the PM to stop making mistakes.
Louise Haigh: The former transport secretary, who was forced to resign over a fraud conviction, could be in the running. She would be seen as a standard-bearer for the soft-left of the party, having spearheaded Labour’s rail renationalisation plans during her brief spell in Government.
Lisa Nandy: The Culture Secretary’s name is also in the mix though it has been reported she is dispelling rumours. She kept her job in the recent reshuffle despite persistent chatter she would be dropped.
Sarah Owen: The chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Owen has strong trade union links from a past life as a GMB political officer. She signed the rebel amendment which ultimately undid planned cuts to disability benefits.
Anneliese Dodds: The former international development minister could provide one of the biggest upsets if she ended up on the ballot paper. Dodds (below), from Aberdeen, also served as chair of the Labour Party. She quit in protest over the Government’s cuts to the foreign aid budget but has since kept a relatively low profile.
Lucy Powell: Fresh from her sacking as leader of the Commons, Powell’s name was touted by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham over the weekend. She has a Labour Together pedigree, having helped lead the influential think tank’s review into the 2019 election defeat, which could stand her in good stead with Starmer’s top aide Morgan McSweeney.
Dawn Butler: On the left of the party, Butler was first to be eliminated in the 2020 contest which took Rayner to the top. She is reportedly considering another go but has previously said she’d like to run for London mayor once Sadiq Khan’s time is up.
Miatta Fahnbulleh: Moved from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to Housing, Communities and Local Government in the reshuffle, though remained a junior minister. Her name has done the rounds, though as a complete newbie – only elected last year – she may lack enough personal clout to clear the nominations hurdle.
Anyone else?
Some other names have been floated. There was speculation that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (below) could fancy her chances but she ruled this out on Monday.
Other names that have been floated include backbencher Stella Creasy, Liaison Committee chair Meg Hillier, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Housing Secretary Steve Reed and Business Secretary Peter Kyle.
What’s at stake?
Rayner was perceived as a balancing force against the influence of McSweeney and other of Starmer’s top aides, whose instincts are to the right of the Labour Party.
The recent reshuffle is being read as an assertion of their supremacy, with the influence of the left diminished.
A victory for a candidate aligned with No 10 would represent the further entrenchment of their power while a win for a critic would be an expression of displeasure from ordinary party members about the Government’s political direction.
