Starmer’s Circle Strengthens: Jessica Morden Poised to Lead Labour’s Parliamentary Party Amid Key Elections

Close associate of Starmer expected to take on key role among Labour MPs

Former aide to the prime minister, Jessica Morden, is highly favored to secure the position of leading the parliamentary group.

Senior political reporter @joncraig

Tuesday, July 16, 2024, 10:

Sir Keir Starmer is set to consolidate his control over the Labour Party during the King's Speech day with elections for crucial positions happening at Westminster.

A prominent supporter of Keir Starmer, Jessica Morden, is favored to win the election for the chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, a role she describes as the "shop steward" for Labour MPs.

Supporters of the Prime Minister, among them two MPs who were recently elected, are anticipated to secure the three positions designated for Members of Parliament on the Labour Party's National Executive Committee.

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Newly elected Members of Parliament Gurinder Josan and Luke Akehurst, who were once representatives for their local party constituencies, along with Melanie Onn, who has returned to the Commons following her 2019 election loss, are expected to secure their positions.

Labour's 411 representatives will cast their votes for the members of the party's parliamentary committee – a team of MPs who meet with the party leader typically on Wednesdays following the Prime Minister's Questions.

The position at the PLP is currently open following the departure of John Cryer, a left-leaning figure who held the role of chair since 2015 until he stepped down as an MP at the general election on July 4. Following his resignation, he was granted a peerage.

Ms. Morden has served as the Member of Parliament for Newport East since 2002 and previously held the position of general secretary for Welsh Labour. In 2020, she supported Sir Keir's leadership bid and worked as his parliamentary private secretary prior to her role as a shadow minister.

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Clive Efford, the opposing candidate for the chairmanship of the PLP and representative for Eltham and Chislehurst, initially backed Jeremy Corbyn for leadership in 2015 before shifting his support to Sir Keir in 2020.

He presides over the Tribune group of Labour Members of Parliament and previously worked as a taxi driver in London.

On the Labor List website, just before the election, Ms. Morden urged Labour MPs, stating, "John excelled as the chair of the PLP, conveying insights from the backbenchers to the party leadership and maintaining open lines of communication to guarantee that all voices were considered.

"I am reaching out to my fellow members to seek their support for my candidacy as the next chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party. This position is frequently likened to being the shop steward of the PLP, and it has been a long time since a woman has held this role."

Referring to her tenure in the whips' office and her role assisting Sir Keir, she mentioned that colleagues have characterized her as "transparent and just, confidential, and capable of communicating various issues while providing subtle assistance when necessary."

She vowed to be an influential and positive representative for all backbench MPs.

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Prior to his role as a Member of Parliament, Mr. Cryer held a position at the Unite union. He comes from a political family, being the child of previous Labour Members of Parliament Bob and Anne Cryer. He also belonged to the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs.

He is wed to Ellie, the sister of Rachel Reeves, who recently assumed the roles of Labour Party chair and minister without portfolio following the party's electoral success. Prior to this, she served as the deputy chief of the party's campaign.

The positions of three Members of Parliament on the national executive committee are open following the resignations of long-serving Labour members Dame Margaret Beckett and Sir George Howarth during the elections, and after Dame Angela Eagle took up a role as a minister at the Home Office.

Left-wing Member of Parliament Kim Johnson, who is also a candidate for the executive role, is at the forefront of the Labour backbenchers' rebellion against the two-child benefit limit. Critics are calling on Sir Keir and Ms Reeves to repeal the policy.

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