Hollie Ridley has been in place since 2024 and was an ally of Morgan McSweeney. She has told staff she will step down after Labour Conference. Another space clear for a Burnhamite…
She told colleagues in an email. Read it below:
“This morning I announced my decision to stand down as General Secretary of the Labour Party after Annual Conference later this year.
I appreciate that such announcements can cause uncertainty for staff, so I want to be clear that things will continue as normal until my successor takes over.
On a personal level, working with you all, watching your dedication, your talent, your brilliance, will always be the privilege of my professional life.
You are the very best of the Labour Party, and I want to thank you for the work that you deliver day-in, day-out to make our country a better place.
As I said in my conference speech when I took up post, being General Secretary was never supposed to be part of my story.
I grew up in Dagenham, the daughter of a family support worker and a lorry driver. Teachers always told me that politics wasn’t for me, that I should lower my sights and have more realistic expectations.
I refused to believe that space shouldn’t be made for working class girls determined to change their communities for the better. The Labour Party shared my view, appointing me to the role of Trainee Organiser.
Since then, I have been a campaign organiser, regional organiser, training manager, head of key seats, regional director, executive director of nations and regions, General Election field director, CAC Secretary and now, the General Secretary.
I started working here in 2011, full of optimism that we would return to government after one term in opposition.
The reality is that it would take us 14 hard years of opposition, and a huge amount of work, for us to turn outwards and face the public and finally win again. I will forever be proud of the role that I played, alongside so many of you, to return our party to government.
As we stood along Downing Street two years ago, it was clear that every ounce of effort had been worth it.
Not just because of the result, but because of everything we have achieved since then – lower NHS waiting times, delivering the strongest growth in the G7, lifting half a million kids out of poverty, passing the employment rights act, the renters’ rights act and so much more.
I am immensely proud to work with each and every one of you, and prouder still to leave this organisation in a stronger position than when I started.
This has not been an easy decision but it is the right one for me and my family.
It is also the right decision to allow our NEC to choose a new General Secretary to work alongside a new leader once they are elected.
The next Leader of our Party and Prime Minister will have my full support, as we continue to drive forwards the vital work of change and deliver that crucial second term in government.
There will be time to trade stories, to share successes and say our goodbyes but that comes later, for now there is a job to do.”
Burnham confirms he spoke to Trump last night about drilling in the North Sea:
“I indicated in the phone call that we had a week last Monday that I would take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea, and that is my intention as we go forward from here. There is a resource there. When people are struggling, we can’t ignore that. Hence, me indicating that to the president…”