2025 Labour Party deputy leadership election

Last updated

2025 Labour Party deputy leadership election
←  2020 5 September – 25 October
Deputy Leader before election

Angela Rayner

Elected Deputy Leader

TBD

The 2025 Labour Party deputy leadership election was triggered on 5 September 2025 by the resignation of Angela Rayner as deputy leader of the Labour Party. It will be the first deputy leadership election held by Labour in government since the 2007 deputy leadership election.

Contents

It is expected that the election will be a contest between a candidate from the left or soft left of the Labour Party and a centrist candidate on the party's right.

Background

The 2020 deputy leadership election resulted in the election of soft left candidate Angela Rayner as deputy leader of the Labour Party, serving under Labour leader Keir Starmer. Following Labour's victory in the 2024 general election, Rayner served as Starmer's deputy prime minister and housing secretary until 5 September 2025, when she resigned after failing to pay stamp duty tax. [1] [2] Rayner also resigned as deputy leader of the Labour Party, triggering an internal leadership election to elect a new deputy leader, in line with the provisions of the Labour Party Constitution. [1] [3] [4]

It is expected that the leadership election will become a contest between a candidate from the left or soft left of the Labour Party, who may try to influence or pressure the more centrist leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer towards a more left-wing platform, and a centrist or Blairite candidate on the party's right. [2] [3] [5] The election is expected to overshadow the coinciding period of the Starmer government and has raised concerns of leading to re-emerged factionalism within the party. [6] [3] This has led to comparisons with the 1981 deputy leadership election, which saw the party split after left-wing candidate Tony Benn challenged Denis Healey. [7] [5] [8] It will be the first deputy leadership election held by Labour in government since the 2007 deputy leadership election.

Setting the timeline and scope of the election

The timeline of the campaign will be decided by the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party (NEC). [3] The constitution of the party states that a deputy leadership election, if triggered while Labour is in government, must be held at the next Labour Party Conference, which is currently scheduled to take place from 28 September to 1 October 2025. [9] [10] Until then, the Labour cabinet can consult the NEC to appoint an interim deputy leader of its choice, or alternatively choose to keep the deputy leadership vacant until party conference. [11] [10] As the election was triggered less than a month before the conference, it has been theorised that the NEC may try to delay the election to a later date. [11] [5] Alternatively, Starmer has reportedly considered reviving a failed proposal by his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn which would abolish the position of deputy leader of the Labour Party. [12]

The NEC decided to meet on 8 September to discuss the election. [13]

Timetable

Timetable for the 2025 Labour Party deputy leadership election [14] [15]
DateEvent
5 Sep Angela Rayner announces her resignation as Deputy leader of the Labour Party (UK) after being found to have broken the ministerial code, triggering the election.
8 SepFreeze date for elector eligibility.
9 Sep Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) nominations open.
10 SepPLP candidate hustings are held.
11 SepPLP nominations close (17:00 BST).
12 SepDeadline for validly nominated candidates to consent to nomination and submit statements for circulation to Constitutency Labour Parties (CLPs) and affiliates (13:00).
13 SepConstituency Labour Party and affiliate nominations open.
27 SepClose of CLP and affiliate nominations; Deadline to clear arrears to be issued a ballot.
5 OctDeadline to resolve disputes as to voter eligibility.
8 OctBallots open.
22 OctLast date to reissue electronic ballots.
23 OctBallots close (12:00).
25 OctResults announced.

Campaign

Candidate selections and nominations

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who is unable to contest the election as he is not an MP, has endorsed the prospective campaigns of either Louise Haigh or Lucy Powell, both of whom are former cabinet ministers sacked by Starmer. [16] Jess Phillips was reportedly supported by a group of MPs prior to her declining to run. [16]

Former deputy leader Harriet Harman said that the next deputy should be a woman. [17]

Starmer is not expected to publicly endorse any candidate. [18]

Candidates

Following changes to the Labour Party's constitution in 2021, candidates for the deputy leadership will have to receive nominations from 20% of the Parliamentary Labour Party (80 MPs as of September 2025) and either 5% (33) of Constituency Labour Parties or three organisations affiliated to the Labour Party, including at least two affiliated trade unions, to qualify for the ballot. [19] [9]

Any candidate must be a sitting MP. [20]

Confirmed

At 21:32 on 8 September, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP became the first confirmed candidate through an announcement on Twitter. [21]

Exploring and expected

On 8 September, it was reported that Rosena Allin-Khan, [24] Lucy Powell [24] and Emily Thornberry [25] [26] were taking soundings of Labour MPs to see if they could get the nominations to be a candidate.

Powell and Thornberry had said they were considering standing. [20] [27] Richard Burgon was also considering his candidacy according to those close to him. [20] , but endorsed Riberio-Addy after her candidancy announcement.

Media speculation

The media have been speculating on likely candidates. It was reported that there could be a 'huge array' of candidates. [16]

The Times listed them with a star-rating (up to 5) for their likelihood: Shabana Mahmood (5), Wes Streeting (4), Bridget Phillipson (3), Ed Miliband (1). [2] The Telegraph suggested Rosena Allin-Khan would run as a standard-bearer for the left, and that candidates being suggested by Labour left-wingers include: Emily Thornberry, Louise Haigh, Bell Ribeiro-Addy; and that fringe candidates include: Dawn Butler, Richard Burgon; and that Sarah Owen is also a potential. [3] The Conversation suggest that Emily Thornberry, Rosena Allin-Khan and Anneliese Dodds may be candidates. [10] The Guardian offer the following as potential candidates: Shabana Mahmood, Ed Miliband, Emily Thornberry, Wes Streeting, David Lammy, Steve Reed, Bridget Phillipson and Peter Kyle. [28] In a PoliticsHome article summarising potential candidates, alongside the above discussed candidates, they mentioned the following: Stella Creasy, Miatta Fahnbulleh, Meg Hillier, Lisa Nandy, Lucy Powell and Nadia Whittome. [20] In addition to many of the previously mentioned names, Politico Europe suggested that Alison McGovern could emerge as a compromise candidate with the support of the Labour leadership. [29]

Declined

The following candidates were speculated as potential candidates but have confirmed they are not standing in the election:

Opinion polling

Labour Party members

Date(s) conductedPollster/clientSample sizeFirst preference
Allin-Khan Haigh Lammy Owen Powell Ribeiro-Addy Streeting Thornberry Others/None of the aboveLead
5-8 September Find Out Now 5186%5%22%3%3%1%13%18%28%Lammy +4%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Lynch, David (5 September 2025). "Labour deputy leader election explained as Angela Rayner quits government". The Independent. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Scott, Geraldine (5 September 2025). "Who could replace Angela Rayner? The likely candidates". The Times. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Rayner, Gordon (5 September 2025). "Who could replace Rayner... and plunge Labour into civil war". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  4. ↑ Jack, Lauren (5 September 2025). "How will Angela Rayner's replacement be decided? Here's how the election process works". The Scotsman. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Parker, George; Pickard, Jim (5 September 2025). "Keir Starmer's problems multiply after deputy's downfall". Financial Times. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  6. ↑ Crerar, Pippa (5 September 2025). "Future Rayner comeback is not off table but her exit has deeply damaged Labour". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  7. ↑ Craig, Jon (5 September 2025). "From non-job to key job - Why there's so much at stake in the election for Rayner's replacement". Sky News. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  8. ↑ Harris, Nicholas (5 September 2025). "Farage dances on Angela Rayner's political grave". The New Statesman. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  9. 1 2 Green, Daniel (5 September 2025). "Angela Rayner: How does Labour elect a new deputy leader of the party?". LabourList. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 Caygill, Thomas (5 September 2025). "What will Angela Rayner's resignation mean for Keir Starmer's government? Expert Q&A". The Conversation. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  11. 1 2 Marr, Andrew (5 September 2025). "Keir Starmer can stop a deputy leadership election". New Statesman. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Zeffman, Henry (5 September 2025). "Henry Zeffman: Rayner's resignation is devastating blow for her and PM". BBC News. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  13. ↑ "Labour body meet to plan race to replace Angela Rayner as deputy". BBC News. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  14. ↑ "Timetable for deputy leadership contest". The Guardian. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  15. ↑ O'Reilly, Luke (8 September 2025). "Labour deputy leader election process timetable and procedure revealed". LabourList. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 Mason, Rowena; Adu, Aletha (7 September 2025). "Senior Labour figures tell Keir Starmer to stop making mistakes". The Guardian . Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  17. ↑ Penna, Dominic (8 September 2025). "Labour deputy leader must be a woman, says Baroness Harman". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  18. ↑ Sparrow, Andrew (8 September 2025). "Starmer not expected to publicly endorse candidate in Labour's deputy leadership contest". The Guardian . Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  19. ↑ Hawksworth, Veronique; Lynch, David (5 September 2025). "Angela Rayner resignation - how will new deputy Labour leader be chosen and who could run". My London. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Rodgers, Sienna (7 September 2025). "Who Is Running In Labour's Deputy Leader Race". Politics Home. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  21. ↑ Walker, Peter; Crerar, Pippa (8 September 2025). "Several senior female Labour MPs drop out of party deputy leader contention". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  22. ↑ "I am putting myself forward to stand as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. I look forward to explaining why, over the three short and undemocratic days we have to do so". Instagram. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  23. ↑ Walker, Peter; Crerar, Pippa (8 September 2025). "Several senior female Labour MPs drop out of party deputy leader contention". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  24. 1 2 Donaldson, Kitty (8 September 2025). "What Labour MPs are really saying about the deputy leader race". The i Paper. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  25. ↑ Sparrow, Andrew (8 September 2025). "Labour reveals tight timetable for deputy leadership nominations – UK politics live". the Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  26. ↑ Schofield, Kevin Schofield (8 September 2025). "Exclusive: Emily Thornberry Appealing For Labour MPs' Support As She Mulls Deputy Leadership Bid". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  27. ↑ "MP Eastwood's partner ready to seek Labour deputy leader position". Belfast Telegraph. 8 September 2025. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  28. ↑ Adu, Aletha (6 September 2025). "Who could replace Angela Rayner as deputy Labour leader?". The Guardian . Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  29. ↑ Dickson, Annabelle; Dawson, Bethany (8 September 2025). "On your marks, get set, schmooze". politico.eu . Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  30. ↑ "Dawn Butler declining to stand on X (formerly Twitter)".
  31. ↑ Morgan, Emma (8 September 2025). "Labour MP Jess Phillips won't stand in deputy leadership race for personal reasons". The i Paper. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  32. ↑ {{Cite web|last=Haigh |first= Louise| date=8 September 2025 |title= I’m not running for Labour deputy leader. I want the freedom to fight for an economic reset|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/08/not-running-labour-deputy-leader-louise-haigh
  33. ↑ "Politics latest: Shabana Mahmood rules herself out of Labour deputy leadership race". Sky News. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  34. ↑ "Politics UK: Lisa Nandy says she will not stand for Labour Deputy Leader". Twitter (X). Retrieved 8 September 2025.
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