Keir Starmer faces Parliamentary exodus

Sir Keir Starmer is facing a parliamentary exodus after 30 Labour MPs announced they are standing down at the general election.

‌The Labour leader is expected to parachute centrist allies into a number of safe seats being vacated by senior figures within the party.

‌But in doing so he risks further angering grassroots activists, especially on the Left, who have accused him of rigging selections.

Five more Labour MPs announced they were quitting the Commons on Tuesday despite the party being on course for a big election win.

‌Those to announce they are standing aside included John Cryer, the chair of the Labour Parliamentary Party, and two shadow ministers.

‌Mr Cryer said he wanted to spend more time with his children and observed that Sir Keir will inherit “a very tough situation” from the Tories.

‌Kevin Brennan, the shadow victims minister, and Barbara Keeley, the shadow music minister, both quit citing recent medical treatment.

‌Their resignations brought the number of Labour MPs leaving to 30, even though the party looks set to return to power for the first time since 2010. However, 78 Tories have now said they plan to quit Parliament rather than face re-election.

‌Those Labour MPs on their way out include some veteran big beasts who have served decades like Margaret Hodge, Barry Sheerman and Harriet Harman. Labour sources said that several more MPs were likely to announce their departures ahead of the June 4 deadline for submitting candidate papers.

‌The high number of MPs leaving has opened up a number of prized safe seats, into which close allies of Sir Keir are now expected to be parachuted.

‌Among those being lined up for a fast-track route into Parliament include Josh Simons, the director of the pro-Starmer think tank Labour Together.

‌Georgia Gould, the leader of Camden council, is also expected to be handed a plum constituency after backing Sir Keir’s leadership from the start.

The Guardian reported that allies who have helped the Labour leader take control of the National Executive Council will also be rewarded.

‌They include Luke Akehurst, who has clashed with the Left over the party’s position on Israel, and the chair of the governing body James Asser.

‌Left-wing activists have accused Sir Keir of deliberately delaying the selection process in a number of seats so that he can parachute allies into them.

‌Labour is not set to announce who is standing on some until June 4, just three days before the Electoral Commission deadline for candidate submissions.

‌Figures on the Left of the party believe that has been done so that local members have no time to fight against the imposition of pro-Starmer choices.