LABOUR OF LAV?

Chair Lavery ‘seriously’ mulls tilt at leadership

LABOUR Party chairman Ian Lavery is “seriously considering” a bid to become the new leader. It could split the left wing vote between him and Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long Bailey, who had been seen as the chosen candidate of Jeremy Corbyn’s allies. A spokesman for Mr Lavery said: “Ian is optimistic about the challenges ahead and knows there is a lot of work to be done to unify the party. “He has had a tremendous amount of support and is seriously considering all of his options.”

A union source suggested former miner Mr Lavery, a Corbyn supporter, was being urged to run because Ms Long Bailey’s campaign has not gathered pace. Some Corbyn allies reportedly think she may not be well known enough. But a senior left-winger voiced doubts Mr Lavery will mount a full candidacy, saying: “He’s responding to pressure from some quarters because Becky has not yet launched.

“Once she has launched I think that will disappear.”

Mr Lavery was previously dogged by reports about roughly £165,000 he received from a union he ran.

It included RACE Long Bailey may also run more than £70,000 in “termination payments” when Mr Lavery was made redundant as general secretary of the NUM Northumberland area on becoming an MP in 2010.

He has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing by himself or the union, and watchdog the Certification Office for Trade Unions ruled in 2017 that no further investigation was needed.

Labour members will elect a new leader by March.

Seven of its MPs who were unseated at the election have called for a “fundamental change” in leadership and blasted “cronyism” at the top of the party.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady will today urge Labour not to be at war over the leadership race. She will say: “Our job is to fight for working people, not against each other.”