Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery is ‘seriously considering’ leadership bid

Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery has confirmed he is ‘seriously considering’ a bid to replace Jeremy Corbyn as leader. 

Mr Lavery is an ally of the current Labour leader, and could split senior left-wing party figures, including Mr Corbyn, who are believed to favour Rebecca Long-Bailey. 

A spokesperson for the Wansbeck MP said Mr Lavery was considering ‘all his options’ after receiving ‘tremendous’ support, the Mirror reported.

The former miner was seen as the natural successor to Arthur Scargill as head of the National Union of Mineworkers in 2002, and was appointed party chairman after Tom Watson resigned in June.  

In a statement a spokesman for Mr Lavery said: ‘Ian is optimistic about the challenges ahead and knows there is a lot of work to be done to unify the party.

‘He has had a tremendous amount of support and is seriously considering all of his options at present.’    

The race to replace Mr Corbyn, who led Labour to its worst electoral defeat of the post-war era, will begin on January 7, with Labour’s ruling body meeting the day before to consider the timetable.   

The former miner was seen as the natural successor to Arthur Scargill as head of the National Union of Mineworkers in 2002, and was appointed party chairman after Tom Watson resigned in June

Ms Long-Bailey has already received the public backing of Richard Burgon and has been promoted by Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.

A union source suggested Mr Lavery was being urged to run because Ms Long-Bailey’s campaign had not picked up the momentum some hoped for. 

Bookies’ favourite Keir Starmer has said he could run alongside Lisa Nandy, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry, and former Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. 

Dan Jarvis, Jess Phillips and David Lammy are also thought to be preparing leadership bids.