Labour general secretary to stand down after party conference

Hollie Ridley has been credited with organising the ground campaign which led Labour to its landslide election win in 2024

Hollie Ridley has been credited with organising the ground campaign which led Labour to its landslide election win in 2024

Hollie Ridley, a close ally of Sir Keir Starmer and his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, told party staff on Friday it was right for Labour's ruling national executive (NEC) to appoint a new general secretary "to work alongside our new leader".

Sir Keir, who announced he was standing down as prime minister in June, described Ridley as "one of the most formidable campaigners the Labour Party has ever produced".

He also credited her with leading the ground campaign which contributed to Labour's landslide general election victory in 2024.

Should Andy Burnham replace Sir Keir as prime minister, he will have the opportunity to influence the NEC as to who leads the party operation.

Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and newly elected MP for Makerfield, is so far the only candidate to announce he is standing.

In her email to colleagues, Ridley said the next leader "will have my full support, as we continue to drive forward the vital work of change and deliver that crucial second term in government".

Ridley began working with Labour in 2011 and said she first became involved with the party to fight the rise of the British National Party in Dagenham, east London, where she grew up.