JENNIE FORMBY was appointed general secretary of the Labour Party as the Star went to press last night.

The Labour national executive committee member and Unite south-east regional secretary was chosen after interviews conducted by the party’s ruling body yesterday afternoon.

The other shortlisted candidate was former National Union of Teachers leader Christine Blower.

Ms Formby will succeed Iain McNicol, who announced his departure last month. Though Mr McNicol himself had been considered a break with the New Labour years when he was appointed, he was accused of siding with the plot against Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership in 2016.

Ms Formby said she was “honoured” by the appointment and thanked Mr McNicol “for his tireless dedication to the party” in his seven years at the bureaucratic helm.

“Last year’s general election showed the strength of our movement when we are united, challenging this government’s failed and damaging policies and campaigning for real change in the interests of communities across the UK,” she said.

Congratulating Ms Formby, Mr Corbyn praised her “talent, experience and commitment to the labour and trade union movement.”