Survey puts Starmer out in front in race to be Labour’s new leader
● Shadow Brexit secretary tops poll of party members
Sir Keir Starmer is the clear front-runner for the Labour leadership contest, according to a new poll – despite not having declared whether he will stand.
A Yougov survey of Labour members published yesterday put the party’s shadow Brexit secretary in the lead on 61 per cent beating Jeremy Corbyn’s ally Rebecca Long Bailey, who has said she is considering a leadership bid. She scored just 39 per cent.
The leadership election process will be launched next week, with the new leader taking over in March following Labour’s worst election performance since 1935, under Jeremy Corbyn.
Yesterday Sir Keir refused to be drawn on the poll results, and would not confirm that he will be a candidate.
He said: “There’s no contest yet. The NEC [national executive committee] will decide this on Monday. For me, the most important thing is that the Labour Party is rebuilt, we learn the lessons of the last general election, reflect on them and address them. But we need the Labour Party as a trusted force for good.”
According to the poll of 1,059 Labour members, the third most popular choice was outspoken Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips, who has also not said whether she will stand.
At present only shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry
and shadow treasury minister Clive Lewis have formally announced they will stand for the leadership. Wigan MP Lisa Nandy and party chairman Ian Lavery, are also believed to be considering entering the contest.
Prof Tim Bale of Queen Mary University of London, who jointly ran the poll with the University of Sussex, said: “This is not shaping up to be a 2015-style Labour leadership contest. Unless potential candidates drop out before the start of voting, it may take a few rounds to decide the winner this time around.
“But it doesn’t look at the moment as if the winner will come from the left of the party. Right now anyway, Keir Starmer looks to be heading for a fairly emphatic victory.”
The survey also found that Brexit could have an impact on the result as Ms Long Bailey is rated first choice by 19 per cent of Labour members who voted Remain, but scores 31 per cent of those who voted Leave.
Sir Keir is backed as first choice by 34 per cent of Remainers in the survey, but only supported by 17 per cent of Leavers.
Yesterday Mr Lewis issued a plea for unity in the race to replace Mr Corbyn and said the party faced an “existential crisis”.
The shadow treasury minister said when you were “hanging by the fingernails on a cliffedge” it was better to work with the people “dangling with you”, rather than attack them.
“The most important thing is that the Labour Party is rebuilt, we learn the lessons of the last general election, reflect on them and address them”
SIR KEIR STARMER