IAN LAVERY has called for Sir Keir Starmer to “step aside” for Labour’s first female leader, as he urges party members to continue fighting for “socialist revolution.”

Speaking in London at a rally for left-wing Labour leadership candidate Rebecca Long Bailey last night, the Labour chairman said that the shadow Brexit secretary should quit the ongoing contest.

Mr Lavery, who is backing Ms Long Bailey, said that under her leadership Labour would “have a leader who can take the fight to the Tories not in 2024 but in 2020.

“We've got a woman who is as strong as anyone within the party.

"She’s got fantastic vision, she’s got a fantastic history and a fantastic background, and she isn’t frightened of anybody — she’s not even frightened of me. She is the right person for the job.”

Mr Starmer is the only male candidate in the contest, which includes Ms Long Bailey, Lisa Nandy and Emily Thornberry.

Mr Lavery said that he felt “bruised, battered and disappointed” by the December 2019 election result.

However, in a clear attack on right-wing Labour MPs, he added he won’t be “taking any lectures” from Labour figures “who are now saying we need to draw a line under it and we need to focus on the future when they’ve undermined Jeremy Corbyn.”

He added: “The only way is to continue with the socialist revolution.

“The only way is to continue to build on what we promised the British people. Comrades, there’s no going back.”