Bridget Phillipson Or Lucy Powell Will Be Next Labour Deputy Leader
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Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former Commons leader Lucy Powell will go head-to-head to replace Angela Rayner as Labour's deputy leader.
On Thursday evening, Labour confirmed that both had secured enough Labour MP nominations – 20 per cent of the parliamentary party – to progress to the next stage of the contest.
Phillipson received the most nominations with 175, while Powell secured 117.
To guarantee a place on the ballot paper, the pair must also get nominated in the second stage of the contest by either five per cent of local parties or three affiliates, including two trade unions.
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, a London MP on the left of Labour, failed to get the 80 nominations needed, while other hopefuls Emily Thornberry, Paula Barker and Alison McGovern withdrew from the race before Thursday's nominations deadline.
The contest was triggered when Rayner resigned as deputy party leader, as well as deputy prime minister and housing secretary, after the independent ethics adviser found that she had breached the ministerial code over unpaid stamp duty.
The contest between Phillipson and Powell means Labour MPs who want the next deputy leader to be a northern woman will get their wish.
The winner will be announced on Saturday 25 October.
Phillipson, who will run for the position while continuing in her education brief, said: “Labour only wins when our party comes together: that is why I plan to give a voice at the cabinet table to all parts of our movement so that we have the best chance of delivering a second term.
“My message now to Labour party members is simple: back me to unite our party and our movement so we can beat Reform at the next election and build the Britain our children deserve.”
In her statement, Powell said: "I’m grateful to all my colleagues who have nominated me for Deputy Leader. This is not a contest I expected nor any of us wanted but we must use it to focus on how the new deputy leader can be a bridge for all parts of our movement and help the government deliver the progressive change the country needs.
"I am Labour through and through. I will always fight for our Party, our values and our traditions. At a time when there are forces trying to spread division and hatred, Labour must be the voice of unity and hope."
