LABOUR’S OLD PALS ACT
Fears of Corbynista stitch-up grow as flatmates Long-Bailey and Rayner ‘agree pact’ not to stand against each other for the leadership
LABOUR’S Angela Rayner is considering throwing her weight behind her flatmate Rebecca Long-Bailey in the race for the party leadership.
The party’s education spokesman – who had been tipped for the top job herself – may stand for the deputy leader role on a joint ticket with her friend.
Labour moderates had hoped Mrs Rayner, 39, would put her name forward to take over from Jeremy Corbyn because she is not considered a prisoner of his hard-Left project.
John McDonnell has been vocal in his support for Miss Long-Bailey, Labour’s business spokesman, describing her as ‘brilliant’.
Mrs Rayner and Miss Long-Bailey, 40, both represent Greater Manchester constituencies, and – when Parliament is sitting – they share a home in London during the week.
Their apparent alliance echoes the famous ‘Granita pact’ between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in 1994. The pair were close friends and, after Labour leader John Smith died, met at an Islington restaurant to thrash out a deal in which Mr Blair would stand as leader with Mr Brown becoming Chancellor in the event of a Labour victory.
If Miss Long-Bailey wins, she will be the first female leader of the Labour Party. Margaret Beckett and Harriet Harman both served as acting leaders, but did not take the official top job. Laura Pidcock, another Left-wing favourite, lost her North West Durham seat to the Conservatives last week.
Labour general secretary Jennie Formby has reportedly written to the party’s National Executive Committee recommending the contest starts on January 7, with a new leader by the end of March.
The deputy leadership role is also up for grabs after Tom Watson resigned at the start of the election campaign. Barry Gardiner, the party’s trade spokesman, is considering running for the job, as is justice spokesman Richard Burgon.
Sadiq Khan appears to have ruled himself out of the Labour leadership race, saying he is more interested in winning a second term as London Mayor.
He said: ‘My focus is on delivering for Londoners and when the campaign begins next year to win the mayoral election, so we can continue improving people’s lives for the better.’
Mr McDonnell spoke highly of both Mrs Rayner and Miss Long-Bailey at the weekend. He told the BBC: ‘I want someone who actually has been, you know, really solidly involved in the development of our existing policy. That’s why Becky and Angie and Dawn [Butler] and others have been so good.’
Meanwhile, Mr Corbyn’s aides Seumas Milne and Karie Murphy are facing calls to quit as Labour warns staff of layoffs following the election disaster. Strategy chief Mr Milne, who is paid £104,000 and chief of staff Miss Murphy, who earns £92,000, have been condemned by colleagues for their roles in last week’s rout.
Mrs Formby has written to workers highlighting that jobs will have to go after Christmas. The party is set to see its public funding drop by around £1.5million a year, from the £7.7million received last year.
Staffers and MPs insist a large chunk of that money should come from axing Mr Milne and Miss Murphy. However, the pair are believed to have transferred from standard adviser contracts, which are tied to the fate of the current Labour leader, to permanent party contracts around a year ago.
A Labour MP said: ‘The ones that have got to go – Seumas and Karie. There is a lot of anger among staff. The two key architects of the defeat have insulated their own position. It’s outrageous.’
A poll yesterday found that Labour lost more voters to Remain-supporting parties than to the Tories – but all the deserters disliked Mr Corbyn. Boris Johnson won because he was seen as the ‘best of a bad bunch’ by voters, according to polling firm Datapraxis.
Labour ‘decisively lost’ the election by shedding a quarter of its Leavevoting supporters while also haemorrhaging support to the Liberal Democrats, it concluded.
‘Improving people’s lives for the better’