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Labour deputy leader candidate Angela Rayner self-isolating after displaying coronavirus symptoms

MP expected to be named as Tom Watson's successor on 4 April

Andrew Woodcock

Political Editor

Friday 27 March 2020 11:10 GMT

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Angela Rayner: more political education needed in schools rather than lessons about Britain's colonialism

Labour’s likely next deputy leader, Angela Rayner, is self-isolating after showing symptoms of coronavirus.

The Ashton-under-Lyne MP is runaway favourite to be named Tom Watson’s successor as deputy leader on 4 April.

Labour have cancelled a special conference planned to unveil the new leader and deputy leader team because of the outbreak, planning a “scaled back event” on the same date instead.

The timing means that Ms Rayner - currently Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow education secretary - is likely to still be self-isolating when the result is announced.

In a message on Twitter, Ms Rayner, 39, said her symptoms began on Thursday evening and had got gradually worse.

The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

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1/8The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

Keir Starmer

The former director of public prosecutions undoubtedly has announced that he is standing for the leadership. He is highly-regarded by both left-wingers and centrists in the party. As Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, he played a key role in the party’s eventual backing of a second referendum. Before becoming an MP, he was a human rights lawyer - conducting cases in international courts including the European Court of Human Rights. Launching his bid, Starmer said that Labour must listen to the public on how to change "restore trust in our party as a force for good." A YouGov poll places him comfortably in the lead as the preferred candidate of 36% of party members

EPA

The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

Lisa Nandy

Wigan MP Lisa Nandy has announced she wil stand for the leadership. In a letter to the Wigan Post she said she wanted to bring Labour "home" to voters in its traditional strongholds who have abandoned the party. Nandy went on to say that she understands "that we have one chance to win back the trust of people in Wigan, Workington and Wrexham." A YouGov poll shows that Nandy is the first preference for 6% of partymembers.

Getty

The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

Rebecca Long Bailey

A key ally of the current left-wing leadership of the party, the Salford & Eccles MP is viewed in some quarters as the natural successor to Mr Corbyn and describes herself as a “proud socialist”. Highly regarded by the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell. She won also won plaudits for her performance filling in for Corbyn both at prime minister’s questions and during the general election debates. The shadow business secretary grew up by Old Trafford football ground and began her working life serving at the counter of a pawn shop. Launching her leadership bid, Long Bailey said the party needs to make the positive case for immigration as a "positive force." She also broke with Corbyn over Trident, saying "If you have a deterrent you have to be prepared to use it."

PA

The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

Angela Rayner - Deputy leadership

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has joined the contest for deputy leadership of the party. After ruling herself out of running for the leadership, the Ashton-under-Lynne MP launched her bid for deputy warning that Labour faces the "biggest challenge" in its history and must "win or die." She is close with leadership contender Rebecca Long Bailey

PA

The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

Rosena Allin-Khan - Deputy leadership

Shadow sport minister Rosena Allin-Khan said Labour need to listen with "humility" to lost voters as she launched her bid for the deputy leadership. Writing in The Independent, the MP for Tooting refelcted: "We shouldn’t have ignored the warning signs in Scotland, and now we’ve paid the price in northern England, across the midlands and in Wales."

PA

The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

Dawn Butler - Deputy leadership

Shadow women and equalities secretary Dawn Butler was first to announce her bid for the deputy leadership. The Brent Central MP has served in Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet since 2016

PA

The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

Ian Murray - Deputy leadership

Labour's only MP in Scotland said that the architects of the party's "catastrophic failure" in the December election can not be allowed to lead the party forward

PA

The battle to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader

Richard Burgon - Deputy leadership

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon is standing as a continuity candidate, flaunting his loyalty to Jeremy Corbyn and saying it is wrong to blame the current leader for the election defeat

PA

She said: “I am now in self isolation as l have the symptoms of coronavirus. They started last night and have gradually got worse.

“I will be a bit quieter than usual but will still be keeping in touch with people as best as l can.

“ Keep safe everybody and remember - Stay Home, Save Lives.”

Messages of sympathy and support immediately began flooding in, with former leadership candidate Jess Phillips telling Rayner "Get well bab" and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham telling her "Take care Ange".

Voting closes in the ballots for leader and deputy leader on 2 April.

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