Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former Commons leader Lucy Powell are now set for a head-to-head battle for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party, following a dramatic elimination round that saw all other contenders fall short of the necessary support. The contest, which has quickly become a focal point for both party unity and internal dissent, was triggered by the resignation of Angela Rayner after revelations emerged about her failure to pay enough tax on her £800,000 flat in Hove.
According to BBC News and corroborated by several other outlets, the final tally after Thursday’s 5pm deadline saw Phillipson secure 175 nominations from Labour MPs, with Powell trailing at 117. The only other remaining candidate, left-wing backbencher Bell Ribeiro-Addy, received just 24 nominations, falling far short of the required 80 to advance. As Ribeiro-Addy put it on social media, “Unfortunately, I have not secured the high number of nominations required to proceed in the deputy leadership contest. I am disappointed that the full range of Labour members’ views will not be represented on the ballot paper.”
The elimination of Ribeiro-Addy, along with the earlier withdrawals of Dame Emily Thornberry, Paula Barker, and Alison McGovern (who endorsed Phillipson upon her exit), leaves the contest as a straight showdown between two political heavyweights from northern England. Both Phillipson, MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, and Powell, MP for Manchester Central, fit the profile preferred by many senior Labour figures: women from outside the capital, a deliberate move to counter what is often criticized as a London-centric and male-dominated leadership.
The next hurdle for the candidates is to secure the backing of either 5% of local constituency parties or at least three Labour-affiliated groups, including two trade unions. Only then will they be eligible to appear on the ballot for the wider Labour membership. Voting is scheduled to open on October 8 and close on October 23, with the winner due to be announced on October 25. Before that, both candidates will have the opportunity to make their case to party members at hustings during Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool at the end of September—a stage that could prove pivotal as the contest threatens to overshadow the party’s biggest event of the year.
The deputy leadership contest has taken on added significance, not least because the winner will not become deputy prime minister—a role now assigned to Justice Secretary David Lammy—but because the deputy leader acts as a crucial bridge between the party’s grassroots and its leadership. As BBC News notes, the position is unique: “Crucially, they cannot be sacked by the party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, as they will have their own mandate.” This independence means the contest is not just about party machinery; it’s about who will help shape Labour’s public face and electoral strategy in the months ahead.
Phillipson, the only cabinet member left in the race, has emerged as the early frontrunner, buoyed by support from MPs loyal to the current government. In a video posted on social media after Thursday’s deadline, she declared, “I want to unite our party and our movement, deliver the change our country needs and beat Reform. Now is the time to come together so we can unite to win again.” She further promised, “I want a mandate from our members to deliver more hope, more opportunity for working people, and more of the transformative policies that you, our members and trade unionists, and working people want to see.”
Powell, meanwhile, has positioned herself as a unifying force in a party often riven by internal divisions. Recently sacked as Commons leader in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle, Powell has drawn on her deep roots in Manchester and her experience championing backbenchers. In her own statement, she said, “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.”
Powell’s campaign has highlighted her commitment to listening to the everyday concerns of people outside Westminster. “Living with my family in my home city, Manchester, has rooted my politics in an understanding of people’s everyday hopes and fears. These are the experiences our MPs and party members hear too. As our deputy leader, I would ensure these are at the heart of what we do and how we operate, bringing together all parts of the party and uniting our broad voter coalition,” she said, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
The contest comes at a sensitive time for Labour. Some see the deputy leadership race as a proxy referendum on Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, especially as the party grapples with “terrible poll ratings” and concerns about factionalism. Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker, who dropped out of the race, told Times Radio, “I think factionalism has taken over. And I think given the terrible poll ratings that we have currently, it should really, really be a wake-up call to everyone in the party that people don’t vote for a divided party.”
Despite these tensions, neither Phillipson nor Powell has openly criticized Starmer, instead focusing their campaigns on unity and effective opposition to external threats, particularly the rising Reform party. Still, the contest provides a platform for discontented MPs and members to voice their dissatisfaction with the current direction of the party, potentially overshadowing the major ministerial speeches at the upcoming conference.
The path to the deputy leadership is not just a matter of internal party politics; it also carries significant implications for Labour’s public image and electoral prospects. The winner will play a central role in future election campaigns and, as the only party official with a direct mandate from the membership, will have a unique standing within the party hierarchy.
With the field narrowed to two, all eyes now turn to Liverpool, where Phillipson and Powell will make their case to the party faithful. Whether the contest will unite Labour or deepen its divisions remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the outcome will shape the party’s direction at a critical juncture in British politics.
