The runners and riders in the race to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

Adam Bienkov

December 13, 2019 3:38 AM

Jeremy Corbyn is expected to stand down as Labour Party leader after a heavy defeat for his party in the UK general election.

Jeremy Corbyn

Corbyn will exit the frontline of British politics after presiding over the worst result for his party in a century.
Potential candidates are already lining up to replace him.
Here are the runners and riders in the coming race for the Labour leadership.
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Jeremy Corbyn is expected to announce his departure as Labour Party leader after a historic defeat for his party in the United Kingdom's general election.

The Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said on Thursday that an "appropriate decision" would be taken about Corbyn's future on Friday morning.

The scale of Boris Johnson's victory means that whoever replaces Corbyn when he does stand down, will have a huge mountain to climb in order to form a Labour government at the next general election, currently scheduled for 2024.

The leadership race is likely to be bitterly fought between candidates from Corbyn's wing of the party and those on the softer left and the right.

Here are the likely runners and riders in the race to replace Corbyn.

Sir Keir Starmer

keir starmer Getty

However, Starmer will be forced to defend his role in forcing Corbyn to take a more anti-Brexit position. Given Labour's hammering in Leave-voting areas in this election, Starmer's position as the most pro-Remain frontline position in the party will not necessarily work in his favour.