Jennie Formby resigns as general secretary of Labour Party

Jennie Formby has resigned as Labour’s general secretary as new leader Sir Keir Starmer reshapes the party.

Ms Formby, a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn, announced she would be standing down on Monday.

She said her two years in the role had been a “huge privilege” and wished Sir Keir the “very best of luck” in leading Labour into the next general election.

“When I applied for the role of general secretary in 2018 it was because I wanted to support Jeremy Corbyn, who inspired so many people to get involved in politics with his message of hope, equality and peace,” she said in a statement.

“It has been a huge privilege to be general secretary of the largest political party in Europe for the last two years, but now we have a new leadership team it is the right time to step down.

“I would like to thank Jeremy, our members and my staff colleagues who have given me so much support during what has been a very challenging period, in particular when I was suffering from ill health.”

She also thanked Labour Party members, who she said “are the backbone of our movement”.

Sir Keir thanked Ms Formby for “the personal and professional efforts she has made in advancing the cause she has fought all her life for”.

“Jennie has led our party’s organisation with commitment and energy through a period of political upheaval, including a snap general election last year. I wish her the very best for the future,” he added.

Labour MP Margaret Hodge tweeted that Ms Formby’s resignation was “another opportunity to draw a line under the past four years”.

“We can now better rebuild public trust in Labour, professionalise our party machine & finally eradicate antisemitism from within our ranks,” she added.

The resignation comes after Labour announced an investigation into the leaking of a controversial dossier on anti-Semitism.