Labour’s plan for female deputy leader collapses, triggering accusations of dirty tricks by Corbyn’s team

Labour’s radical plan for a woman to be elected to a second deputy leader’s post has collapsed, triggering accusations of dirty tricks by Jeremy Corbyn’s team.

The motion was suddenly withdrawn by the local branch that had proposed it, amid angry claims that the leader’s office feared the rise of a potential rival.

Angela Rayner, the independent-minded shadow education secretary, was seen as the frontrunner for the new role – which would have put her in pole position to take the Labour crown.

One leading female Labour MP, Jess Phillips, tweeted her anger, saying: “It’s not a factional game for god’s sake.”

The Labour Women’s Network said Labour “must stop playing politics with this and guarantee women’s representation in the leadership team”.

And Harriet Harman, Labour’s former temporary leader, told The Independent: “You never get anywhere on women’s rights if you see it through the prism of the other political contests within the party.

“It’s not pro or anti-Corbyn – it’s pro-women. You just have to say “is it wrong to have men only leadership?”.

Luke Akehurst, a leading Labour Corbyn-opponent, tweeted: “Disgusting that Wirral West remitting has killed the chance of a woman second deputy leader – because the hard left were scared a moderate would win, scared of party democracy.”

Another female Labour MP said: “They clearly got frightened that they couldn’t control it and so pulled their support. It’s outrageous.”

Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) voted on Saturday to support the rule change to establish a second deputy, to serve alongside Tom Watson.

With a growing clamour for the next leader to be a woman, whoever grabbed the new position would have been certain to be catapulted into the position of favourite to succeed Mr Corbyn.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, and Dawn Butler, the shadow equalities minister – all Corbyn allies – were all strong candidates.

But the popular Ms Rayner was more hotly-tipped. Although on the left of the party, she has challenged the leadership on occasions – including over higher spending for the youngest children, ahead of axing tuition fees.

Labour has been asked to respond to the accusations that the leader’s office was behind the sudden withdrawal of the motion, shelving the female deputy leader plan.

Just two days ago, the Wirral West constituency Labour party (CLP) tweeted its delight that the NEC “has adopted our proposal and will be recommending it to Labour Party Conference”.

Urging other branches to get behind it, the CLP said: “This seeks to abolish the current role of deputy leader and replace it with two deputies, at least one of whom must be a woman.”

Today, defending the decision to withdraw the motion, Angela Marincowitz-Skillen, a Wirral West delegate, cited “disturbing reports that those who want to divide our party want to use this as a way to do it, making an election for a new deputy leader, about Brexit, about a new centre party or whatever project they think up to sow disunity.

“I want to say to those people, members are sick of this sectarian game,” she told the conference.

Mr Watson had said he was “strongly in favour” of the idea, telling the BBC: “It’s really important that we continue the battle for gender parity in our party. That’s Jeremy’s aim as well.”

A Labour source said: “The CLP that proposed it decided to withdraw it. The leadership supported the NEC endorsing the proposal and shadow cabinet members on the NEC voted for it.”