Whoever becomes Labour’s next general secretary will have to win over most of the party’s national executive committee, where Sir Keir Starmer now commands a slim majority. Here are some potential candidates for the role. Morgan McSweeney Chief of staff to Starmer, with strong local government connections, the former campaign director of Liz Kendall’s failed leadership bid would be a popular choice among MPs and those loyal to the new leader. But he may struggle to win support from the unions, who traditionally occupy the role of general secretary. Lisa Johnson Among the favourites to replace Formby, the director of external relations at the GMB union is known as an extremely capable backroom dealer who has guided the union through tricky times with employers and Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party. Her allies say she was among union officials who urged the GMB’s general secretary, Tim Roache, to step down last week. Emilie Oldknow The Unison official and Labour’s executive director for governance, membership and party services was seen as a frontrunner for the job until a controversial leaked antisemitism report claimed she had made inappropriate comments about colleagues. She has denied any wrongdoing. Anneliese Midgley A popular member of Jeremy Corbyn’s 2015 leadership campaign, she would be expected to command the support of many on the left of the party. She may suffer objections from some Starmer supporters because, like Formby, she is a Unite-backed official and is closely associated with Corbyn ally Len McCluskey.
Brian Roy Scottish Labour’s former general secretary stood down in August after a row about the party’s position on a second independence referendum. He has been mentioned as a possible candidate by some on the right of the party. Candidate from outside the party Some Labour sources have hinted that Starmer may wish to break with tradition and look for a candidate outside the party – an organiser from a third-sector body who will shake up the structures of the party without setting up their own power base.