What election candidate selections tell us about Keir Starmer’s Labour

Perhaps the most politically on-brand selection is Georgia Gould, the leader of Sir Keir’s local Camden council and daughter of Blair-era strategist Lord Philip Gould.

As head of the north London authority, she has championed the “mission-driven” approach to governing, with teams organised around broad long-term goals, which Sir Keir has put at the heart of his plan for power.

Policy experts from Starmer-friendly think tank Labour Together are also on the list.

These include Josh Simons, who resigned as a party policy adviser after seven months under Mr Corbyn’s tenure and is now its candidate in the safe seat of Makerfield.

Long-regarded as a sounding board for the Starmerite wing of the party, Labour Together has donated staff to several shadow cabinet ministers and is expected to be influential in shaping the party’s manifesto.

Another candidate from the think tank world is Torsten Bell, the director of the Resolution Foundation, which has a focus on low pay.