A bitter internal feud has rocked the Labour Party, with Deputy Leader Angela Rayner accused of deliberately sabotaging London Mayor Sadiq Khan's future political ambitions. The explosive row centres on the selection of a candidate for the Tooting constituency, Mr Khan's old parliamentary seat.
At the heart of the controversy is Dr. Rosena Allin-Khan, the sitting MP for Tooting and a close political ally of the Mayor. Senior party figures allege that Ms. Rayner has actively intervened to block Dr. Allin-Khan from being re-selected as the Labour candidate for the next general election.
This move is widely seen as a direct blow to Mr. Khan's influence. Without a trusted ally holding his former seat, his widely speculated plan to return to the House of Commons after his mayoral term ends would be severely compromised. The situation has ignited fury among Khan's supporters, who see it as a "naked power grab" by the party's deputy leader.
A Strategic Blockade
Insiders report that Ms. Rayner's team is pushing for a different candidate, one seen as more loyal to her wing of the party and to leader Keir Starmer. This has effectively thrown Dr. Allin-Khan's political future into doubt and has opened up a deep rift within the party's ranks.
The tension highlights the complex and often brutal machinery of Labour's internal politics. By controlling who gets to run in key seats, party bosses can effectively shape the composition of the next parliamentary intake and consolidate their own power base.
What This Means for Khan's Future
For Sadiq Khan, this represents a significant setback. If he harbours ambitions for a top national role in a future Labour government, a return to Parliament is considered essential. Losing a safe seat held by a loyalist drastically limits his options and could potentially box him into a political corner after his tenure at City Hall.
The fallout from this selection battle is sure to ripple through the party, underscoring the fierce behind-the-scenes battles that define British politics, even for a party riding high in the national polls.
