With Jeremy Corbyn ready to stand down, we’re taking a look at the next Labour leader odds to see who is expected to take charge of the opposition party.
Corbyn has been in control since 2015, but will now hand over the reins after losing the 2017 and 2019 general elections.
The 70-year-old has sidestepped questions to endorse a specific candidate, only saying he is “determined that our party remains an anti-austerity party, remains dedicated to peace and human rights around the world”.
Here are the three remaining potential replacements and their respective next Labour leader betting odds:
SIR KEIR STARMER @ 3/100
A QC and former Director of Public Prosecutions, Starmer was urged to challenge for the leadership in 2015, but bided his time due to a relative lack of political experience.
The shadow Brexit secretary was critical of the previous leadership and the MP for Holborn and St Pancras is now a red-hot favourite to succeed Corbyn.
Starmer has declared: “My message to our members is essentially that they’ve got a choice.
“We as a party can mope around, head in hands, arguing with each other, pointing fingers about who’s to blame for this, that and the other.
“Or we could decide the next four years of our history is for us – we can pull together and shape what happens next.”
Former prime minister Gordon Brown has thrown his weight behind Sir Keir, who won more than double the amount of CLP support than any other challenger, as well as gaining the backing of unions and affiliated socialist organisations.
Brown commented: “There is one candidate with the expertise, with the eloquence, with the dedication, with the commitment and indeed with the values that are necessary for Labour to return to power.
“Keir Starmer has all the qualifications that are necessary for a Prime Minister of the future.
“A vote for Keir Starmer is a vote for hope. It’s a vote for the future. It’s a vote for the values that all of us believe in deeply.”
REBECCA LONG-BAILEY @ 16/1
The shadow business secretary has struggled in the polls since being seen as an early favourite to step up from being one of Corbyn’s most trusted allies.
An MP for Salford and Eccles, the 40-year-old has been very vocal in calling for a council house “building boom”.
Long-Bailey has also said she wants to put protecting the environment at the heart of a redrawn constitution for the party.
She declared: “It is only by saying boldly and proudly what we are for, that we can give our country’s people confidence in our politics and our commitment to them.”
Being such a strong supporter of Corbyn’s leadership and refusing to criticise his policies could now go against her, but don’t forget that he upset the odds to become leader.
Long-Bailey is also a close friend and Westminster flatmate of Angela Rayner, who is rated a shoo-in to become deputy leader.
LISA NANDY @ 33/1
Another female northern powerhouse who is the MP for Wigan and shadow energy secretary, Nandy has vowed to “bring Labour home” to its traditional strongholds.
Has received support from the GMB union, with general secretary Tim Roache describing her as a “breath of fresh air”.
Roache, whose organisation has 620,000 members, added: “The more members see of Lisa in this contest the more impressed they will be by her ambition, optimism and decisive leadership.
“Lisa won’t shy away from the tough challenges or bold decisions that lie ahead, because she knows that after 15 years of losing elections, more of the same won’t cut it.
“A candidate entrenched in the union movement, Lisa gets the scale of the challenge. She will raise Labour’s game with a bold agenda that puts people first and grounds politics in their lives.”
That backing has earned Nandy a seat at the table, but it will be a major surprise if she can go all the way in this race.
Who can vote?
The party membership, which stood at more than 580,000 after the general election, each get a single and equal vote. So do supporters who have paid a fee to take part. They have until 12pm on April 2 to make their voices heard.
How does it work?
The system used is a preferential vote, so if no candidate wins more than 50% in the first round, then the candidate in last place is eliminated and their votes redistributed until the threshold is reached.
When will the winner be announced?
A special conference is scheduled for April 4. At that, the person to lead the party after its worst general election defeat since 1935 will be announced.
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