Race on to replace Jim McMahon as leader of LGA Labour group

February 6th will allow an insight into whether the attitude of the Labour Party’s activist base has shifted since Jeremy Corbyn became leader. It is at Labour’s local government conference on that date that the replacement for Jim McMahon as leader of Labour’s Local Government Association group.

The timeline has now been confirmed for the election, with nominations closing on 15th January, ballots sent out on 18th of January, voting closing on 4th of February and the result announced on Saturday February 6th. Those running must be a Labour councillor and nominated by five Labour groups, including three outside of their own region. All Labour council groups get a vote in the election. Until then, Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock and leader of Stevenage Sharon Taylor will stand in as acting LGA group leader.

Jim McMahon is widely considered a ‘moderate’, and has had to leave both his LGA and NEC posts since winning the Oldham West and Royton by-election earlier this month. While he has been replaced as an NEC councillor representative by Ann Lucas (the next placed candidate in last year’s election), there is some speculation that the LGA election could become a contest between different ideological flanks of the party.

Reports suggest that as many of 30,000 members may have left Labour since Jeremy Corbyn was elected in September (a figure disputed by insiders) despite membership rising to over 370,000, drastically changing the make-up of the party. However, with Labour groups, made up of Labour councillors, voting in this election, we will be offered a small glimpse into what pre-Corbyn members might be thinking.

LabourList will bring you the runners and riders next month.