Harriet Harman has been tipped to be Labour’s ‘caretaker’ leader as Ed Miliband’s political future hangs in the balance following a humiliating defeat in last night’s election.
With the Conservatives on course for an outright victory and the Labour party wiped out in Scotland, Miliband has said he is “deeply sorry” about the surprise result.
The final count is yet to come in but the some members of the party are already calling on their leader to consider his position and handover to someone else.
A Labour HQ source told the New Statesman: “Ed has to resign tomorrow. Everyone here accepts that.”
Political pundits consider it likely, given the scale of the defeat, that Miliband will resign but it is unsure whether he will wait until a new leader is chosen or whether the Camberwell and Peckham MP, Harriet Harman, should step in as ‘caretaker leader’.
This would not be a first for Ms Harman, who was an ‘acting leader of the opposition’ in 2010 following Gordon Brown’s resignation.
Ms Harman romped home in her constituency of 33 years, with an impressive 32,614 votes last night, over than 25,000 more than her nearest competitor, Conservative candidate, Naomi Newstead.
The former MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, Dame Tessa Jowell, has spoken out in support of Miliband saying it is “not the moment” to replace him. “You cannot lay all of this on Ed Miliband,” she added.
Despite a disappointing night for Labour nationally, Ms Harman managed to increase her majority in Peckham and Camberwell.
With an impressive 32,614 votes, the long-standing MP in the middle of the borough romped home with a majority of over 25,000 votes compared to her nearest competitor, Conservative candidate, Naomi Newstead.
For the full results for Peckham and Camberwell click here