JENNIE FORMBY is standing down as general secretary of the Labour Party after two years in the role, it was announced today.

She said it was the right time to resign following Sir Keir Starmer’s election last month as Jeremy Corbyn’s successor and Angela Rayner’s election as deputy leader.

Former Unite union officer Ms Formby said that she had taken on the role in 2018 primarily to support Mr Corbyn in his leadership of the party and his “message of hope, equality and peace.”

Ms Formby, who had treatment for breast cancer last year, said it had been a privilege to serve during what had been a “very challenging period.”

She said: “I wish Keir and Angela the very best of luck in taking the party forward and leading Labour to victory at the next general election.”

Sir Keir thanked her for her commitment and leadership through “a period of political upheaval,” and Ms Rayner said that Ms Formby had “blazed a trail as one of our highest-achieving women.”

She added: “She goes with our thanks and gratitude, and I’ve no doubt she will stand squarely behind us as we continue to fight for social justice and the Labour government our country so desperately needs.”

Momentum said that Ms Formby “inherited a party bureaucracy that was often hostile to Jeremy’s leadership,” alluding to the internal party report leaked last month that exposed sabotage from within Labour HQ of Mr Corbyn’s general election campaigns and efforts to handle anti-semitism claims. 

“Struggling against this while undergoing chemotherapy must have taken a herculean effort,” the group said.

National executive committee officers would soon discuss a timetable for electing a new general secretary, the party said.