Cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson has successfully entered the race to replace Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader. Phillipson garnered 116 endorsements from MPs, surpassing the required threshold of 80. Lucy Powell, who narrowly missed the cut with 77 nominations, was close to securing a spot on the ballot.
Housing Minister Alison McGovern withdrew from the competition and threw her support behind Phillipson, stating that she is the ideal candidate to unify the party. McGovern acknowledged the shifting dynamics of the contest and emphasized the importance of unity to combat the far right and populism.
Meanwhile, the remaining contenders – Dame Emily Thornberry, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and Paula Barker – are actively seeking support from MPs before the upcoming deadline. As of Wednesday evening, Dame Emily had 13 nominations, Ribeiro-Addy had 15, and Barker had the backing of 14 MPs. All five female MPs are set to participate in a virtual hustings to present their platforms to the MPs.
In a notable development, Dame Margaret Beckett, the first female deputy leader of the Labour Party, shared her candid thoughts on the position, describing it as demanding and challenging. Dame Margaret emphasized the need for a cohesive leadership team to steer the party in the right direction, highlighting the significance of constructive efforts over divisive politics.
