Rebecca Long-Bailey favourite for next Labour leader after Jeremy Corbyn steps down
REBECCA Long-Bailey is in pole position to succeed Jeremy Corbyn after John McDonnell appeared to throw his weight behind her yesterday.
The outgoing shadow chancellor Mr McDonnell tipped her along with shadow justice secretary, Richard Burgon, shadow education boss Angela Rayner, and equalities spokesperson Dawn Butler for the top job too.
Betfair Exchange spokesperson, Katie Baylis said today: "With the Election decided and a new Labour leader on the horizon, it’s Rebecca Long-Bailey who has been heavily backed by punters on Betfair Exchange over the weekend to take over the job."
Mr Corbyn is set to stay on until March after the leftie boss announced he would quit following last week's disastrous result for Labour.
Here's the runners and riders who could take over.
Rebecca Long-Bailey 9/5
The shadow business secretary has been tipped to replace Mr Corbyn for months.
The 40-year-old MP for Salford and Eccles is set to get the endorsement of the left of the Labour party, after working closely with the shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
Mr McDonnell also yesterday called for a female leader - and someone not from the metropolitan elite of the south.
She grew up in Old Trafford, Manchester, and worked as a customer service assistant in a pawn shop - something she says "taught me more about the struggles of life than any degree or qualification could".
A Roman Catholic, Long-Bailey is married and has one son.
Lisa Nandy 4/1
The Wigan MP has blamed Mr Corbyn for last week's devastating defeat.
She said over the weekend she was "seriously considering" going for the top job.
Keir Starmer 7/1
Labour's shadow Brexit boss is one of the favourites to take over.
He's from London and has lived in Kentish Town with his wife and kids for the last 20 years - and some are worried he will appear too southern to appeal to voters in the North.
He was a human rights lawyer before entering Parliament.
In 2008 he was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service for England and Wales.
He came into Parliament as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras in May 2015.
Angela Rayner 8/1
Mrs Rayner went to Avondale School, but left aged 16 when she became pregnant, without any qualifications.
She later studied part time at Stockport College, and qualified as a social care worker, before joining Unison.
She was the youngest person ever to be appointed as shadow education secretary back in 2016, at the age of 36.
And when she became a gran at the end of 37, she dubbed herself 'Grangela'.
Last week she suggested Jeremy Corbyn might actually watch the Queen's Christmas speech in the morning on 'catch up'.
Jess Phillips - 14/1
The Birmingham Yardley MP, who has been a fierce critic of Jeremy Corbyn, is also considering running for the leadership.
She's said Labour face an "existential problem" that working class voters do not believe that the party is "better than the Tories".
Ms Phillips said after Labour's loss last week: "The reality is that I will take part in rebuilding the Labour party no matter what happens."
She added: "We have got to rebuild trust - that's not just about me, it's about so much more.
Emily Thornberry - 20/1
Yvette Cooper 28/1
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The former shadow home secretary is also being tipped to run to be a centrist candidate in the leadership race.
Ms Cooper, who has a long history in politics and is a prominent Commons figure, is popular among MPs.
She is married to Ed Balls, the former shadow chancellor.
Most recently she has been chair of the Home Affairs Committee, where she has become known for her forensic questioning of politicians.
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