The Chair of the Labour Party is a position in the Labour Party of the United Kingdom. The Chair is responsible for party administration and for overseeing general election campaigns, and is typically held concurrently with another position.
History Tony Blair established the office after the 2001 general election. During his tenure as prime minister, it was a Cabinet-level position held alongside the post of minister without portfolio. The position is not to be confused with that of Chair of the Labour National Executive Committee, described as 'chair of the party' in the Labour Party Constitution. The role had a larger portfolio for organising election campaigning under Jeremy Corbyn, with Ian Lavery working alongside the co-national campaign coordinator, Andrew Gwynne.
From June 2007 to June 2017 and again from April 2020 to May 2021, the seat was held concurrently by the party's deputy leader. The position was held by Angela Rayner, who was appointed by Sir Keir Starmer following her election as deputy leader, until 2021 when she was sacked after Labour performed poorly at the local elections and the Hartlepool by-election.
List of chairs
NamePortraitTerm of officeLength of TermConcurrent office(s) Party Leader Charles Clarke 9 June 2001 24 October 2002Minister without Portfolio Tony Blair John Reid 24 October 2002 4 April 2003 Ian McCartney 4 April 2003 5 May 2006 Hazel Blears 5 May 2006 24 June 2007 Harriet Harman 24 June 2007 12 September 2015Deputy Leader of the Labour PartyLeader of the House of Commons (2007–10)Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal (2007–10)Minister for Women and Equality (2007–10) Gordon BrownLeader of the Opposition (2010)Herself (acting)Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2010–15)Shadow Secretary of State for International Development (2010–11)Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (2011–15)Ed MilibandLeader of the Opposition (2015)Herself (acting) Tom Watson 12 September 2015 14 June 2017Deputy Leader of the Labour PartyShadow Minister for the Cabinet OfficeShadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Corbyn Ian Lavery 14 June 2017 5 April 2020Shadow Minister without PortfolioNational Campaign Coordinator Angela Rayner 5 April 2020 8 May 2021Deputy Leader of the Labour PartyDeputy Leader of the OppositionShadow First Secretary of StateNational Campaign Coordinator Sir Keir StarmerAnneliese Dodds 9 May 2021 6 July 2024Chair of the Labour Policy ReviewShadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Ellie Reeves 6 July 2024 6 September 2025 Minister without PortfolioAnna Turley6 September 202521 July 2026Bridget Phillipson27 July 2026 Incumbent Minister for Women and Equalities Andy Burnham
Timeline
References