EXPLAINED: How the Labour leadership contest works

With Angela Rayner’s resignation leaving a high-profile vacancy, the race to become Labour’s next deputy leader is officially underway. Ava has the inside scoop, taking you through the rules and the candidates vying for one of the most powerful positions in the party. She unpacks the new reality of Labour’s internal politics, starting with the key changes since the last leadership contest. From tougher nomination thresholds to the scrapping of supporter votes, Ava explains how the process has been reshaped to raise the bar for contenders and tighten the grip of the party’s hierarchy. She also reveals why the NEC has chosen such a short election timeline and what that means for unions, affiliates and grassroots members hoping to have a say.

Along the way, Ava profiles the leading names floated in Westminster and beyond. From cabinet figures close to Keir Starmer to frustrated former ministers on the backbenches, the runners and riders reflect the tensions at the heart of the party. Some, like Shabana Mahmood and Allison McGovern, carry the support of the Starmer faithful. Others, such as Lucy Powell, Louise Haigh and even Andy Burnham, offer a challenge to the leadership from outside the inner circle. On the left, figures including Rosena Allin-Khan, Dawn Butler, Olivia Blake and Clive Lewis present a different vision for Labour’s future, though the rules may make it harder for them to break through.

Ava draws on conversations with MPs, advisers, activists and unions to weigh up which campaigns could catch fire and which are likely to fade.

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