Will there be a left challenger to Keir Starmer if Labour loses today’s Batley and Spen by-election? In recent days, MPs including Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler and Jon Trickett have all been identified as potential candidates. (John McDonnell, who stood for the leadership in 2007 and 2010, has privately ruled out another bid.)
But when the Socialist Campaign Group met last night, I’m told the conclusion was that a left challenger would not be able to win the 40 MP nominations (20 per cent) required to stand against an incumbent leader. This doesn’t make a bid impossible – some may feel compelled to respond to grassroots pressure – but it does make it unviable. Following the removal of the Labour whip from Jeremy Corbyn and Claudia Webbe, the group now numbers 32 Labour MPs, including former leadership candidates Diane Abbott, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Clive Lewis.
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