Jennie Formby looks set to be Labour's general secretary

Jennie Formby, an organiser for the Unite union, looks all but certain to be Labour’s next general secretary, completing Jeremy Corbyn’s control of the most senior posts in the party, after the GMB union threw its weight behind her.

Formby’s candidacy has been keenly promoted by Corbyn’s office, and supportive Labour MPs include Chris Williamson, and party chair Ian Lavery.

But other trade unions were initially concerned at what they regarded as a Unite stitch-up – and Jon Lansman, leader of the pro-Corbyn grassroots campaign group Momentum, put himself forward, complaining about “machine” politics inside Labour.

Lansman withdrew his name on Sunday and, with the GMB’s backing, Formby appears almost certain to clinch the post, which is voted on by members of the party’s ruling national executive committee.

In a statement, the GMB’s general secretary, Tim Roache, said: “This isn’t a small decision, we’ve taken time as a union to discuss it, to think about where Labour needs to be.

“GMB members first and foremost need a Labour government, and we need our party to understand us. Jennie has been a trade unionist for decades. I have no doubt she understands the challenges and issues working people face and that she’ll do everything she can to put them at the heart of Labour’s campaign for government.”

Source: theguardian