Cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson has successfully entered the competition to replace Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader. Phillipson garnered 116 endorsements from Members of Parliament, surpassing the required 80 nominations. Lucy Powell, who was recently removed as Commons leader in Keir Starmer’s reshuffle, fell short by just three nominations, securing 77 backers.

In a significant development, Housing Minister Alison McGovern withdrew from the race and threw her support behind Phillipson, citing her as the most capable candidate to unify the party. McGovern acknowledged the shifting dynamics of the contest and expressed her decision not to proceed to the next stage. She pledged to endorse Bridget Phillipson and continue advocating for progressive ideals irrespective of the election outcome, emphasizing the importance of countering far-right and populist ideologies.

Among the other contenders, Dame Emily Thornberry, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and Paula Barker are vying for additional support from MPs before the upcoming 5pm deadline. As of Wednesday evening, Dame Emily had 13 nominations, Ribeiro-Addy secured 15, and Barker garnered the backing of 14 MPs. All five female candidates are expected to participate in a virtual hustings session on Wednesday evening to present their platforms to MPs.

Meanwhile, former Labour deputy leader Dame Margaret Beckett, the first woman to hold the position, reflected on her experience, describing the role as demanding and challenging. Dame Margaret, who served as deputy leader from 1992 to 1994, expressed the significant time, effort, and responsibility involved in the position. She emphasized the importance of forming a constructive leadership team to guide the party and government effectively, highlighting the need for serious engagement rather than engaging in petty politics.