Keir Starmer: Commentator discusses future of Labour leader

When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

The hard left Corbynite members succumbed to reality during a meeting of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group (SCG) after deciding they did not have the numbers to challenge Sir Keir’s authority. It came just days before he edged further away from the danger zone after securing Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire. The seat had become one of the most viciously contended by-elections in recent history, with intimidation tactics, alleged attacks and homophobic abuse having marred the campaign trail.

Kim Leadbeater commended her new constituents, saying they had “voted for hope” and “rejected division”.

Her late sister, Jo Cox, was murdered in 2016 while representing the seat in the run-up to the Brexit referendum.

The victory not only gives Labour a platform to work from in the Red Wall, but also ensures Sir Keir lives to see another day as party leader.

His leadership has in recent months been thrown into question, with reports on Thursday suggesting Angela Rayner was preparing to make a bid for the top job if the party lost Batley and Spen.

It is believed that a number of Corbynites were pushing Ms Rayner’s case among members of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP).

Yet, their hopes of ousting Sir Keir had already been nulled, according to Professor Steven Fielding, a Labour commentator.

He said Corbynite members who make up the SCG – which includes Mr Corbyn – met before the ballot and concluded that their numbers were too few to pose a real threat to the leadership.

Prof Fielding told Express.co.uk: “I think even if Starmer had lost this election, he’d still just about be safe.

“The Socialist Campaign Group, the hard left MPs, 33 of them, a couple of nights ago had a meeting.

JUST IN: What do you think about that, Nicola! Boris unveils bumper new regime

“They decided they didn’t have enough numbers to get one of their own to get nominated to challenge Starmer.

“So the hard left haven’t even got enough MPs to start the process of challenging him.”

Anyone hoping to challenge Sir Keir must be able to win 40 MP nominations, around 20 percent of the PLP membership.

Since the removal of the Labour whip from Mr Corbyn, the group has lessened in both influence and numbers.

DON’T MISS
Sturgeon’s sovereignty hopes shattered if Scotland joins EU [REPORT]
Teen and woman brutally attacked by gang of thugs [INSIGHT]
Jacob Rees-Mogg mocks SNP about BBC’s English-centric Euros [ANALYSIS]

Other members of the SCG include Diane Abbott, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Clive Lewis.

Writing in the New Statesman, George Eaton notes that while the group’s numbers fall short of a challenge, their defeat isn’t necessarily set in stone.

He said: “This doesn’t make a bid impossible – some may feel compelled to respond to grassroots pressure – but it does make it unviable.”

If Sir Keir were to resign in the future – unlikely to happen any time soon after Batley and Spen – only 20 MP nominations, 10 percent, would be required, plus either five percent of constituency parties or three affiliated groups, at least two of which must be trade unions.

On hearing the reports about her alleged leadership bid, Ms Rayner said it was “news” to her.

Speculation surrounding whether she might replace Sir Keir has abounded ever since the party’s drubbing in May’s local elections and the Hartlepool by-election.

But Ms Leadbeater’s victory could ward off any outside challenges for the time being.

The party isn’t completely out of the dark, however.

Labour won Batley and Spen with a majority of just 323, meaning the party lost 7.4 percent of the share of the vote it previously had under its former MP and new Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin.

George Galloway and his Workers Party of Britain decisively split the ballot, snatching 8,264 votes.

On Friday morning, Sir Keir said he welcomed the “fantastic result” and described Ms Leadbeater as “brilliant and brave”.

Source: Read Full Article