Emily Thornberry pulls out of deputy Labour leader race

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Labour deputy leadership candidate Emily Thornberry has announced her withdrawal from the race, leaving four contenders vying to succeed Angela Rayner. In a social media post, Thornberry expressed gratitude to Labour members for their support and emphasized the privilege of participating in a competition alongside exceptional female candidates. Despite securing 13 nominations from Labour MPs, Thornberry fell short of the required 80 to advance to the next stage.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson leads the pack with 116 endorsements from her parliamentary peers, while Lucy Powell, recently removed as Commons leader, trails behind with 77 nominations. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, representing Clapham and Brixton Hill, has garnered 15 nominations, with Paula Barker from Liverpool Wavertree close behind at 14. Candidates must secure 80 nominations by Thursday’s deadline to remain in the running; failure to do so will prompt their exit from the contest.

The deputy leadership hopefuls must also secure support from 5% of local parties or three Labour affiliated groups, like trade unions, to progress to the final ballot. Voting commences on 8 October and concludes on 23 October, with the winner revealed shortly afterward. As candidates prepare to address Labour members at the party’s conference later in September, the leadership contest poses a potential challenge for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, serving as a platform for dissatisfied MPs and party members to voice their grievances.

Phillipson’s unique position as the sole cabinet member in the race has garnered support from government loyalists among MPs. However, this alignment may alienate party members seeking a candidate with greater independence from the leadership. Notably, the deputy leader will not assume the role of deputy prime minister, as Sir Keir has already appointed David Lammy to the position

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