Corbyn ally Formby picked for Labour HQ

A union official and Jeremy Corbyn ally has been appointed Labour’s new general secretary, becoming only the second woman to hold the post.

Jennie Formby, the South East regional secretary of union Unite, was chosen by Labour’s national executive ahead of her only rival for the job, the former leader of the National Union of Teachers Christine Blower.

Ms Formby has been a Labour member for 40 years and has served on party’s national executive for seven years. Her victory leaves Labour’s MPS as the only pillar of the party where Mr Corbyn’s influence does not dominate.

The job became vacant after the resignation of Iain Mcnicol, a target for Corbyn sup- 0 Labour’s new top official is Corbyn ally Jennie Formby porters who quit after serving for a “tumultuous seven years”.

Mr Corbyn said Ms Formby’s “talent, experience and commitment to the Labour and Trade Union movement makes me confident she will play a crucial role in building on last year’s inspiring general election advance”,