Bridget Phillipson Takes Early Lead In Six-Way Race To Be Labour Deputy Leader

Emily Thornberry, Lucy Powell, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Bridget Phillipson.Bridget Phillipson has taken an early lead in the race to become Labour’s deputy leader.The education secretary is one of six MPs so far to throw their hats into the ring to succeed Angela Rayner, who resigned last Friday.The others are local government minister Alison McGovern, former Commons leader Lucy Powell, foreign affairs committee chair Emily Thornberry, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Paula Barker.A poll of party members by the LabourList website found that Phillipson has a net favourability rating of plus 39, with Thornberry the next most popular candidate on plus 20.McGovern is on plus 19, with Powell on plus 1 and Ribeiro-Addy on minus 3.The candidates need to get nominations from at least 80 of their fellow MPs by 5pm on Thursday to stand a chance of getting onto the final ballot.A Labour source said they expected the contest to come down to Phillipson versus Powell, but another insider said the race was “hard to predict”.He said: “I think a lot of MPs will think Bridget is independent-minded enough to stand up to [No.10 chief of staff] Morgan McSweeney, and the desire not to have a contest may influence them.”Announcing her candidacy on Tuesday, Phillipson said Labour was “in a fight” with Reform UK for the future of the country.The Houghton and Sunderland South MP said: “I’ve shown we can beat Farage in the north-east, while staying true to the Labour Party’s values of equality, fairness and social justice.“With me as deputy leader we will beat them right across the country and unite to deliver the opportunity that working people across this great country deserve.”Powell is known to be “furious” that she was sacked as Commons leader in Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle last Friday.She said: “Over the last year, as part of the Labour government I was proud to serve, I have championed our backbenchers, made sure their voices were heard, and sought to unite our team.“We must use all our talents and experience to ensure our Labour government, led by our prime minister, is successful in delivering our mandate of change.“This means responding to the huge challenges we face with bold policies, rooted in progressive Labour values.”Thornberry tried to play up her left-wing credentials as she said the government had “made mistakes and must listen”.She said: “Welfare. Gaza. Wealth tax. Changes to come on [special education needs]. I will be a voice for the membership, unions, PLP, and our constituents – not just nod along.”Referring to Reform, McGovern said the UK ″faces a huge threat from the dark forces of right-wing populism”.“We will only defeat that threat by giving people real hope and pride in our diverse country,” she said. “And by fighting for those things that unite, not divide, us all: the right to a home, a job and to feel part of this country.”Ribeiro-Addy said: “We can offer hope and a vision to rebuild Britain after decades of neglect, and take on the politics of hatred and division. If Labour carries on presenting itself as a pale imitation of Reform, then millions will conclude that Reform must have all the answers.”Related...Exclusive: Lucy Powell To Stand For Deputy Labour Leadership Days After Being Sacked By StarmerLabour Deputy Leadership Candidate Warns Starmer Party 'Can't Out-Reform Reform'Who Might Run To Replace Angela Rayner As Labour's Deputy Leader?

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