Some supporters of Rebecca Long Bailey are alarmed by her choice of Alex Halligan as her campaign chief

The frontrunner in the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn has appointed a self-proclaimed Stalinist to organise her campaign for the leadership.

Rebecca Long Bailey, the shadow business secretary, has turned to Alex Halligan, who was instrumental in Mr Corbyn’s successful leadership campaign in 2015.

Her move is understood to have infuriated the shadow chancellor John McDonnell. Mr McDonnell expressed concern, Mr Halligan attempted to confront him. Now the shadow chancellor, who had been expected to back Ms Long Bailey, 40, is understood to have made a “conscious decision to have no involvement in the leadership election” even though she is widely seen as his protégée.

Mr Halligan, right, raised eyebrows at the Durham Miners’ Gala with his badge choice

Mr Halligan is well known as a Momentum and Unite organiser in the northwest, and was a key