SENIOR Liverpool councillors and rising Labour stars are set to lead the race to replace Wavertree MP Jane Kennedy.

The Labour MP announced yesterday she will stand down at the general election after 17 years as one of the city’s five MPs.

She admitted to feeling “drained” and “tired” and said the time was right for her to do something new, although she does not have another job lined up.

The “unrelenting” pressures of 10 years as a government minister had taken its toll on her family life.

She said changes to be introduced to Parliament after the expenses scandal, which include not being able to employ her partner, Peter Dowling, were also a factor.

The Labour party’s National Executive Committee will meet on November 17 to decide the process for choosing its next candidate for the seat.

The executive will have to decide whether to have an all-women shortlist or an open list.

As three of Liverpool’s current five MPs are women, the party may opt for an open list.

Last night, no one had declared they would enter the race for the seat, where Mrs Kennedy currently has a narrow 5,173 majority.

Some may wait to find out whether Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of the opposition on Liverpool Council, decides to run before throwing their hat in the ring.

However, rising Labour star Luciana Berger has already been identified as a leading unofficial candidate from outside the city.

With Labour hopeful of taking control of the council at the next election, Cllr Anderson, who lives in the Wavertree constituency, faces a tough decision.

He could either hold out for the possibility of becoming council leader or contest an election after which he might end up sitting as part of a depleted Labour party in opposition.

Other contenders include his deputy, Paul Brant, a barrister, who ran in the Southport constituency in 2005.