Keir Starmer has cancelled planned campaigning for the Labour leadership today and tomorrow as his mother-in-law is critically ill.  

The shadow Brexit secretary has asked for privacy while he supports his two children, wife Victoria and her mum who is in intensive care. 

A statement from Starmer’s campaign team says his mother-in-law was involved in an accident.

It reads: “Following an accident, Keir Starmer’s mother-in-law is critically ill and has been admitted to hospital in intensive care.

“In order to support his family at this difficult time, Keir will be cancelling all campaign events today and tomorrow. We ask that his family’s privacy is respected at this time.”

The 57-year-old former human rights lawyer has a sizeable lead in the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, having secured the support of unions Unison and Usdaw, and the party’s environment campaign SERA. 

He is set to face competition from shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, who has politics close to Corbyn’s, and campaigning Wigan MP Lisa Nandy, who has placed regaining support in Britain’s towns central to her offer. 

The winner of the contest is set to be announced on April 4 after a long campaign and hustings events across the country. 

A campaign spokesperson would not comment on the nature of the accident, which took place on Wednesday.