Kim Leadbeater, the sister of murdered MP Jo Cox, is considering standing as a Labour candidate in the Batley and Spen by-election.
The by-election, which is set to take place this summer, will be Starmer’s next big test.
The West Yorkshire seat has been held by Labour since 1997 and it is where Jo Cox served as an MP from May 2015 until June 2016, when she was fatally stabbed by a far-right terrorist.
This would be her sister’s political debut. Leadbetter, 44, lives locally and was awarded an MBE in December for her voluntary work tackling social isolation in Batley and Spen during the pandemic. She is also an ambassador for the Jo Cox Foundation.
The by-election is taking place to fill the seat of Tracey Brabin, Cox’s successor, who has won the inaugural West Yorkshire mayoralty and must now step down from her current role.
Labour’s candidate will be chosen via a vote by locals – this follows criticism of the selection of Paul Williams who was chosen by Labour’s central command rather than by those on the ground.
The date of the by-election is still not confirmed but it has been pencilled in for 22 July, a month after the fifth anniversary of Cox’s murder.
