Cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson has successfully advanced in the race to become Labour’s next deputy leader, aiming to replace Angela Rayner. Phillipson garnered 116 endorsements from Members of Parliament, surpassing the required 80 nominations. Lucy Powell fell just short of the threshold with 77 supporters after losing her position as Commons leader in Keir Starmer’s recent reshuffle.
Housing Minister Alison McGovern withdrew from the competition and threw her support behind Phillipson, stating that Phillipson is best suited to unify the party. McGovern acknowledged the shifting dynamics of the race and expressed her confidence in Phillipson’s ability to lead the party effectively.
In Birkenhead, the Labour MP emphasized her backing for Phillipson, highlighting her as the candidate capable of uniting the party and confronting political adversaries. She affirmed her commitment to advocating for progressive ideals, emphasizing the importance of countering extremist ideologies.
The contest for Labour’s deputy leader also includes candidates Dame Emily Thornberry, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and Paula Barker, who are actively seeking additional endorsements before the impending deadline. As of Wednesday evening, Dame Emily had 13 nominations, Ribeiro-Addy secured 15, and Barker received support from 14 MPs. All five female candidates are scheduled to participate in a virtual hustings session to present their platforms to MPs.
Meanwhile, Dame Margaret Beckett, the first woman to hold the deputy leader position within the Labour Party, reflected on the challenges of the role, describing it as demanding and ungratifying. Dame Margaret, who served in the role from 1992 to 1994, emphasized the need for a cohesive leadership team to guide the party towards success and effectively govern the country, dismissing any notion of engaging in trivial political maneuvers.
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