From non-job to key job - Why there's so much at stake in the election for Rayner's replacement.

It was erstwhile regarded arsenic a non-job. But the predetermination for Angela Rayner's successor arsenic lawman Labour person threatens to plunge the enactment into a caller civilian war.

The contest, whenever it happens, could perchance beryllium the astir divisive since the bitter left-right divided erstwhile Tony Benn challenged the incumbent, Denis Healey, successful 1981.

It was the twelvemonth of the motorboat of the breakaway SDP by the "Gang of Four" - Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Shirley Williams and Bill Rodgers - and defections by respective much Labour MPs.

There was speculation that if Benn - past successful his hard-left signifier earlier helium became a nationalist treasure successful his second years - determination would beryllium acold much defections to the SDP.

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This time, however, the menace of defections by Labour MPs comes not from the centre, but from Jeremy Corbyn's caller party, which could beryllium triggered if the left's campaigner is crushed.

So galore Labour MPs volition privation to spot a campaigner elected to regenerate Ms Rayner who provides a balanced ticket, a left-right operation with Sir Keir Starmer.

Back successful 1981 the Benn-Healey conflict was fought retired successful a filthy temper astatine Labour's autumn league successful Brighton, with the erstwhile chancellor winning by a wafer-thin 50.4% to 49.6%.

The temper was truthful poisonous that Neil Kinnock, who'd refused to backmost Mr Benn, has claimed helium was assailed by a young Benn protagonist successful the lavatory of the Grand Hotel and boasted: "I bushed the **** retired of him."

Contrast that with the comradely contention erstwhile Ms Rayner bushed rivals Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler, Rosena Allin-Khan and Ian Murray successful a ballot of enactment members successful 2020.

Of those four, a furious Mr Murray has conscionable been sacked arsenic Scotland Secretary by Sir Keir, portion Mr Burgon and Ms Butler are regarded arsenic apt to basal again this time.

Big names and celebrated faces successful the relation passim the years

Over the years, immoderate large names person been Labour's lawman leader, including Clement Attlee successful the 1930s earlier helium became person and left-wing firebrand Aneurin Bevan for a year, until his decease successful 1960.

Mr Healey was followed successful 1983 by Roy Hattersley, who'd stood connected a alleged "dream ticket" with Mr Kinnock. Mr Benn and chap left-winger Eric Heffer were derided by MPs arsenic "the nightmare ticket".

Then came Margaret Beckett, John Prescott, Harriet Harman and Tom Watson. But of each Labour's deputies, Mr Attlee was the lone 1 to spell connected to go person and a Labour premier minister.

The station was said to beryllium a non-job nether Harold Wilson erstwhile his lawman was George Brown, amended known for his drinking than his governmental achievements, and Ted Short, who adjacent called his memoirs "I Knew My Place".

It was the bruising Benn-Healey contention that elevated the presumption of lawman leader. And the 2 astir celebrated caller deputies, John Prescott and Angela Rayner, went connected to go lawman premier minister.

So from a non-job, it's go a cardinal job.

Mr Prescott and Ms Rayner were seen arsenic quality shields for Mr Blair and Sir Keir against the near and the much militant commercialized unions.

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No wonderment Sir Keir's handwritten missive to Ms Rayner aft her resignation was truthful affable and sympathetic. He didn't privation to suffer his quality shield.

In the Conservative Party, Margaret Thatcher famously said of her lawman William Whitelaw: "Every premier curate needs a Willie."

In the Labour Party, these days each premier curate needs a protector, a gatekeeper, a fixer and a go-between. That's wherefore there's truthful overmuch astatine involvement successful the predetermination for Angela Rayner's successor.