Starmer ‘to push Shabana Mahmood for deputy party leader’ to see off Left

Sir Keir Starmer will encourage Shabana Mahmood to run for election as his deputy within Labour to see off Left-wing candidates, party insiders suggest. The new Home Secretary, who is a devout Muslim, is seen by many Starmer loyalists as the perfect choice to replace Angela Rayner and to get ahead of challenger running on a pro-Palestinian platform. The Prime Minister will almost certainly face a challenge to his authority from the Left of the Labour Party when nominations open for the deputy leadership. Left-wing MPs are expected to rally around a candidate who will urge Sir Keir to get...