Starmer’s allies to appoint new Labour general secretary in next fortnight

Keir Starmer’s team ‘have decided to move quickly because their capital is at the highest and the delegates are supportive as they will be’, a senior party official said. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

Keir Starmer’s allies are planning to use their moment of “maximum power” to speedily appoint a new Labour general secretary in the next fortnight, the Guardian has learned.

Insiders said party figures were planning to install a Starmer ally in the top party job in time for the appointment to be ratified by conference in late September.