Keir Starmer set to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Party leader
Written by News on 04/04/2020
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to be confirmed as the new leader of the Labour Party later.
He is the favourite to succeed Jeremy Corbyn after winning the support of a majority of local constituency parties, and maintaining a consistent lead in opinion polls of Labour members.
The other contenders are shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, an ally of Mr Corbyn, and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy.
The results will be announced via the party‘s social media feeds at 10.45am alongside pre-recorded videos from the new leader and deputy leader.
A planned “special conference” to unveil the winners of both contests was cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.
Allies of Keir Starmer say the scale of his anticipated victory will determine how far he is able to transform the party in his own image.
If elected, he is likely to announce his first shadow cabinet appointments on Sunday, with his choice of shadow chancellor seen as a strong signifier of the path he intends to forge.
Rachel Reeves, chair of parliament’s business select committee, and shadow treasury minister Anneliese Dodds have both been touted for the role.
In his first week in office Sir Keir is expected to explain how he will tackle Labour’s antisemitism problem, in an effort to rebuild trust with the Jewish community and demonstrate a break from the past.
Jeremy Corbyn announced his intention to stand down after December’s devastating general election defeat, the party’s worst result since 1935.
He decided to remain in charge until a successor had been chosen and has declined to rule out serving in the next shadow cabinet.
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner is expected to be elected Labour’s new deputy leader, succeeding Tom Watson who announced in November that he was standing down from parliament.
MPs Rosena Allin-Khan, Dawn Butler, Richard Burgon and Ian Murray are also vying for the role.
In the third and final round of the leadership contest, party members and members of trades unions and affiliated groups each have a vote, as do 14,700 registered supporters who paid £25 to take part on a one-off basis.
The final weeks of the contest were particularly low key due to the coronavirus pandemic, with campaign events and hustings cancelled.
(c) Sky News 2020: Keir Starmer set to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Party leader
