Six women from the Labour Party have entered the competition to succeed Angela Rayner as deputy leader. Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, emerged as a strong contender by reassuring unions that there would be no compromise on workers’ rights reforms. Speaking at the Trades Unions Congress conference shortly after announcing her candidacy, Phillipson emphasized her commitment to delivering the Employment Rights Bill without dilution.
Despite her strong stance, Phillipson faces scrutiny for potentially being favored by Downing Street as deputy leader. MPs are urging the government to address issues such as a wealth tax, the two-child benefit limit, and the situation in Gaza.
In addition to Phillipson, other contenders include veteran Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry, former Cabinet minister Lucy Powell, housing minister Alison McGovern, and left-wing MPs Paula Barker and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, all of whom joined the race on Tuesday. They are set to participate in a virtual hustings hosted by the party as they strive to secure at least 80 nominations from MPs to proceed to the members’ ballot.
Bridget Phillipson, with 44 nominations, expressed her determination to confront Reform. Dame Emily Thornberry, with 7 nominations, highlighted the need for Labour to learn from past mistakes and listen to various stakeholders. Alison McGovern, with 2 nominations, emphasized the importance of countering right-wing populism. Lucy Powell, with 35 nominations, emphasized understanding people’s concerns. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, with 8 nominations, criticized the rushed process for electing a new deputy leader. Paula Barker, with 3 nominations, emphasized the importance of upholding Labour’s core values.
