Who will be the next face of the British Labor Party?

Text by: RFI Follow

The election of the next Labor leader starts this Monday, February 24. Party members and members of affiliated unions have until April 2 to vote. Three candidates are in the running to replace Jeremy Corbyn: two women and a man with very different sensitivities.

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At 40, Rebecca Long-Bailey is often perceived as the natural heiress of the far left Jeremy Corbyn. His father was a dock worker and unionist. Responsible for relations with businesses within the party, she intends to take advantage of her workers' origins to try to win back the electorate tempted by the conservatives.

But it is a figure who divides within the party whose members have turned away from the leader, accused of being responsible for the historic defeat in the legislative elections in December. Recently, several dozen deputies have even raised the threat of a resignation from the party if it were designated.

The only male representative, Keir Starmer, 57, is on a much more centrist line. Member of Greater London, he has been responsible for Brexit within the party for three years. He himself had voted in favor of keeping the United Kingdom in the European Union. Among his supporters: UNISON, the largest union in the country.

The third candidate, Lisa Nandy, 40, has behind her the GMB union, which represents some 600,000 workers and the National Union of Miners. Member of Parliament for the North West of England, she is in charge of the energy file.

Labor members have until April 2 to vote. The name of Jeremy Corbyn's successor will be announced two days later.

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