Labour Faces Criticism Over Deputy Leadership Contest as Louise Haigh Calls for "Economic Reset"
The Labour Party has seen 18 deputy leaders in its history, but only two have also held the role of deputy prime minister—one of them being Angela Rayner, who stepped down last week. In Friday’s reshuffle, Keir Starmer separated the two positions, appointing David Lammy as deputy prime minister alongside his role as justice secretary. Labour confirmed that an election will be held to choose Rayner’s successor as deputy leader, with the timeline set to be finalized today. However, there is no assurance that the winner will secure a position in government.
Leadership contests are inherently divisive, and the simplest outcome for Starmer would be for Labour MPs to unify behind a single candidate. Under party rules, a nominee requires backing from 20% of the parliamentary Labour Party (80 MPs), raising the possibility of a consensus candidate emerging. Those viewed as outsiders may struggle to meet this threshold. Ministers, including cabinet members, are eligible to run. Though Lammy could technically reunite the deputy PM and deputy leader roles if he stands and wins, many in the party believe the deputy leader should be a woman representing a constituency outside London—and Lammy appears uninterested. No clear frontrunner has yet emerged, though several potential candidates have been suggested.
The process itself has already sparked controversy. Key details include:
Candidates will reportedly have just four days to secure the necessary 80 nominations. The party’s national executive committee is expected to set Thursday at 5 p.m. as the deadline, with voting scheduled between October 8 and 23—ensuring the election concludes well before the November 26 budget announcement.
Richard Burgon, a prominent member of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group and a former deputy leadership contender in 2020, has accused the party of manipulating the contest. In a social media post, he wrote:
"I’ve been warning about attempts to rig the deputy leadership election—and what’s now being proposed is the worst stitch-up yet. Just a couple of days to gather MP nominations! This is a blatant attempt to silence Labour members and avoid scrutiny over the party’s failures in the past year, from cuts to disability benefits and winter fuel payments to its stance on Gaza. This rushed timetable proves a leadership unwilling to listen or learn, undermining efforts to rebuild support and counter Nigel Farage."
Meanwhile, Louise Haigh, former transport secretary and a possible deputy leadership candidate, has outlined her vision in an article published online, calling for an "economic reset."
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