Labour party chairman Ian Lavery is “seriously considering” running to become the party’s new leader.
The Mirror reported a spokesperson confirming the MP for Wansbeck’s interest in a bid for the party’s top job after Jeremy Corbyn quit following last month’s election disaster.
Lavery, a former general secretary of the National Union of Miners and seen as on the left of the party, will likely be seen as a ‘continuity Corbyn’ candidate if he does decide to run.
He became Labour chairman in 2017 and was in co-charge of the party’s failed election campaign, which saw the Conservatives win an 80-seat majority. His own majority was squeezed to just 814.
A spokesperson said: “Ian is optimistic about the challenges ahead and knows there is a lot of work to be done to unify the party.
“He has had a tremendous amount of support and is seriously considering all of his options at present.”
Speaking to HuffPost UK before the election, Lavery refused to rule himself out of running for deputy leader, with Tom Watson standing down.
“It will be discussed after the election, but I will say never say never,” he said. “I have had lots of people and some unions who would like me to stand.”
The contest to succeed Corbyn has yet to officially start but a number of other candidates are expected to declare in the coming weeks.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and Clive Lewis, the shadow Treasury minister, have both declared they will run.
Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey is said to be considering running, while shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, Wigan MP Lisa Nandy and arch-Remainer and Tottenham MP David Lammy have all expressed interest.