Labour’s brewing civil war intensified as Bridget Phillipson and sacked minister Lucy Powell entered the deputy leader contest. The Education Secretary announced she is running to replace Angela Rayner and “unite our great party”.
Her move makes the Starmer-loyalist the de facto Downing Street candidate for the role. It also lines up a clash with Ms Powell, who has been backed by Andy Burnham. Fellow ex-frontbencher Emily Thornberry officially threw her hat into the ring, promising she will not just “nod along” with Sir Keir.
Nominations open today, with hopefuls needing to gain support from at least 80 MPs before 5pm on Thursday.
That means it is unlikely more than two or three will reach the threshold.
Ms Phillipson said: “I am a proud working-class woman from the north east. I have come from a single parent family on a tough council street, all the way to the Cabinet, determined to deliver better life chances for young people growing up in our country.
“I’ve taken on powerful vested interests in the education sector – and even as they threw everything at me, I have never taken a backwards step. I will bring that same determination to every battle ahead of us.
“Because make no mistake: we are in a fight. We all know the dangers Reform poses our country.
“But not only am I ready for it: I’ve proven we can do it. I’ve shown we can beat Farage in the north-east, while staying true to the Labour Party’s values of equality, fairness and social justice.
“With me as deputy leader we will beat them right across the country and unite to deliver the opportunity that working people across this great country deserve.”
Ms Powell was sacked as Commons Leader by Sir Keir in his reshuffle which was forced upon him by Ms Rayner’s bombshell resignation.
She is understood to be popular with Labour MPs.
The successful candidate will replace Ms Rayner as deputy Labour leader but not as deputy PM, a position which has been handed to Justice Secretary Mr Lammy.
Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham has signalled support for Ms Powell – whose constituency is in the city.
He said that he wanted to see a northern woman get the job, and suggested they should not be in the government.
“I think the debate should go in this contest towards how the Labour Party is being run, how Parliament is being run… I don’t think that MPs should be treated in the way they have been in recent years,” Mr Burnham told Sky News.
“I was in the Blair and Brown governments and it wasn’t done like that then.
“MPs had more ability to speak out without facing the loss of the whip and all of the other things that we have seen.
“I think we need to listen to our MPs more and respect them more. Because they have sounded the alarm over winter fuel and they were right to do so and over disability benefits, and they were right to do so…
“I just think you need that culture in a Labour government.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he would “certainly prefer” the next deputy leader to be a woman.
Asked on Times Radio whether it should be a woman from the north of England, he said: “Without being disrespectful to some brilliant women in London who are standing, like Emily Thornberry, who I’ve got lots of respect for, I can well understand why lots of my colleagues are saying we should have a deputy leader from outside London to broaden perspectives.”
Bell Ribeiro-Addy became the first person to officially throw her hat in the ring.
“I look forward to explaining why, over the three short and undemocratic days we have to do so,” she said.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and former Cabinet minister Louise Haigh have ruled themselves out of the running, while Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is also not expected to run.
Labour veteran Baroness Harriet Harman said the role should be filled by a woman from outside London.
In the first stage, candidates have to secure nominations from 80 MPs – a fifth of the total on the Labour benches.
They will then have to secure the support of 5% of constituency parties or at least three affiliates – including at least two affiliated trade unions.
The ballot for candidates who clear the nomination hurdles will open on October 8 and close at noon on October 23, with the result announced on October 25.
Labour’s annual conference starts on September 28 and is likely to be used as a key moment in the campaign, potentially causing problems for Sir Keir as candidates set out rival visions for the party.
