Will Labour ever have a female leader?

Where are all the women in Labour’s leadership race? Jess Phillips pulled out of the contest in January. Emily Thornberry, who ploughed on in spite of having less overall support, was knocked out a fortnight ago. Two women candidates remain. But every indication, from this week’s polling to CLP nominations to betting odds, is that Keir Starmer will beat Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy to a resounding victory on 4 April. With ballots going out this week and 70 per cent of members likely to vote within the first three days, the election is all but over.

How did it happen that Labour, once again, will not elect a woman as its leader? In spite of a Tory Government pushing ahead with a Brexit that many people don’t support and demonstrating an urge to tinker with the foundations of the British state, policy has been strangely irrelevant in Labour’s leadership election.