LABOUR CHIEF FORMBY QUITS
Hunt for General Secretary starts
LABOUR Party General Secretary Jennie Formby is standing down after two years in the job.
Ms Formby, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, was expected to go after Keir Starmer took the reins as leader.
He is likely to play a big part in deciding who the party’s ruling National Executive Committee will appoint as her successor.
Her announcement comes after a report into anti-Semitism, which she commissioned, was leaked, igniting a huge internal row, and triggering a probe to be led by Martin Forde QC.
There will now be a new General Secretary in place when his inquiry ends this summer and also when a probe by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission into Labour’s disciplinary processes is completed.
Announcing her decision, Ms Formby, an ex-Unite official, praised Mr Corbyn for inspiring people to get involved in politics with “his message of hope, equality and peace”.
She wished Mr Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner “the very best of luck in taking the party forward and leading Labour to victory at the next general election”.
Mr Starmer responded: “I would like to thank Jennie for her service, and for the personal and professional efforts she has made in advancing the cause she has fought all her life for.”
Traditionally, the General Secretary job is passed between the three big unions. Candidates to succeed Ms Formby include Emilie Oldknow from Unison, Lisa Johnson from the GMB and Anneliese Midgley of Unite, who is seen as a possible unity candidate.