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Political reporter Kate Whannel reported that the Labour Party’s race for the next deputy leader is heating up, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, senior backbencher Dame Emily Thornberry, and recently sacked leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell throwing their hats into the ring. Additionally, Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, have also expressed their intentions to run. However, former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan have opted not to participate in this contest.
To be eligible for the deputy leader position, candidates must secure nominations from at least 80 Labour MPs by Thursday evening. They also need the support of 5% of local parties or three Labour-affiliated groups, including two unions. Successful candidates will face a vote by party members, with the winner set to be announced on 25th October. The Labour Party is organizing hustings at its upcoming annual conference in late September to allow candidates the opportunity to make their case to party members.
Phillipson, the sole Cabinet member to declare her intent to run so far, is expected to align more closely with the government than her competitors. She emphasized her working-class background and vowed to bring a fighting spirit to the role, highlighting the challenges facing the country and her commitment to Labour’s core values of equality, fairness, and social justice. In contrast, Dame Emily Thornberry emphasized the need for the party to reflect on its recent mistakes and prioritize issues such as welfare, Gaza, and a wealth tax.
Although the nomination process has faced criticism for its tight timeline, with some candidates like Ribeiro-Addy expressing concerns about fairness, the Labour Party remains focused on selecting its next deputy leader. With no male candidates having announced their candidacy thus far, the party is poised to elect a woman to the role. Former deputy leader Harriet Harman and other prominent figures within the party have advocated for gender diversity in the position. As the contest unfolds, the future direction of the Labour Party’s leadership and key policy stances remains uncertain
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