Chair of the Labour Party (UK) explained

Post:Chair of the Labour Party
Incumbent:Ellie Reeves
Incumbentsince:6 July 2024
Style:Party Chair (informal)
Appointer:Leader of the Labour Party
Formation:9 June 2001
First:Charles Clarke

The Chair of the Labour Party is a position in the Labour Party of the United Kingdom. The Chair is responsible for administration of the party and overseeing general election campaigns, and is typically held concurrently with another position.

History

Established by Tony Blair in the aftermath of the 2001 general election, the chair of the Labour Party was a Cabinet position held alongside the minister without portfolio post during his tenure as prime minister.[1] The position is not to be confused with that of Chair of the Labour National Executive Committee, described as 'chair of the party' in the Labour Party Constitution. The role had a larger portfolio for organising election campaigning under Jeremy Corbyn, with Ian Lavery working alongside the co-national campaign coordinator, Andrew Gwynne.[2]

From June 2007 to June 2017 and again from April 2020 to May 2021, the seat was held concurrently by the party's deputy leader. The position was held by Angela Rayner, who was appointed by Sir Keir Starmer following her election as deputy leader, until 2021 when she was sacked after Labour performed poorly at the local elections and the Hartlepool by-election.[3]

List of chairs

NamePortraitTerm of officeLength of TermConcurrent office(s)Party Leader
Charles Clarke9 June 200124 October 2002Minister without PortfolioTony Blair
John Reid24 October 20024 April 2003
Ian McCartney4 April 20035 May 2006
Hazel Blears5 May 200624 June 2007
Harriet Harman24 June 200712 September 2015Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Leader of the House of Commons (2007–10)
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal (2007–10)Minister for Women and Equality (2007–10)
Gordon Brown
Leader of the Opposition (2010)Herself (acting)
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2010–15)Shadow Secretary of State for International Development (2010–11)

Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (2011–15)

Ed Miliband
Leader of the Opposition (2015)Herself (acting)
Tom Watson12 September 201514 June 2017Deputy Leader of the Labour PartyShadow Minister for the Cabinet Office

Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Jeremy Corbyn
Ian Lavery14 June 20175 April 2020Shadow Minister without PortfolioNational Campaign Coordinator
Angela Rayner5 April 20208 May 2021Deputy Leader of the OppositionShadow First Secretary of State

National Campaign Coordinator

Sir Keir Starmer
Anneliese Dodds9 May 20216 July 2024Chair of the Labour Policy ReviewShadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities
Ellie Reeves6 July 2024IncumbentMinister of State without Portfolio

Notes and References

  1. News: Blair mistook his Clarke for a chair. Hattersley. Roy. 26 July 2001. The Guardian. 24 May 2007.
  2. Web site: The Latest from Labour Shadow Cabinet Appointments. 15 June 2017. Labour Party. 9 January 2021.
  3. News: Way. Fran. 9 May 2021. Oxford MP Anneliese Dodds sacked as Labour's Shadow Chancellor. 10 May 2021. Oxford Mail. en.