Two candidates will go head to head in deputy Labour leader race

Bell Ribeiro-Addy has become the latest to drop out of the Labour Party deputy leadership race kicked off by Angela Rayner's resignation.

Nominations for the contest have now closed, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former minister Lucy Powell set to go head to head in a final membership vote.

Emily Thornberry and Paula Barker withdrew earlier on Thursday, having failed to get close enough to having the backing of 80 MPs in time for the 5pm deadline, with 13 and 14 backers respectively.

Alison McGovern was the first to ditch her campaign on Wednesday, ahead of a virtual hustings with Labour MPs that night, and backed Phillipson.

Clapham and Brixton Hill MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, seen as the candidate of the Socialist left, and who had been outspoken in her opposition the government's policies on Gaza and welfare cuts, had only secured 15 backers by Thursday night.

Posting on X, she said her supporters had tried to "ensure an open debate" and did not back either of her competitors, wishing both the best of luck.

"I also urge them to be braver about the kind of debate and change demanded by Labour voters and members up and down the country," she added.

Phillipson sailed past the minimun number of backers a day before the deadline, having secured nominations from at least 116 of her parliamentary colleagues.

Powell - who was sacked as Commons leader last week – is her closest rival with 77 nominations and is expected to have won at least three more backers, so is set to carry on to the next stage.

Thornberry, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, announced her decision to step down on social media, saying it had been "a privilege to take part in this race with such brilliant women".

Quitting the race the same morning, Barker said the next deputy leader should listen to members and must "not be afraid to bring those challenges to the government".

"Being a good team doesn't mean we can't be honest - criticism of government, when it's constructive, makes us stronger," she added.

Barker is now throwing her supporter behind Powell, who she said could be "a constructive friend to the government".

In order to make it to the final ballot, deputy hopefuls will have to win the backing of 5% of local parties or three Labour affiliated groups, such as a trade union.

Voting opens on 8 October and closes on 23 October, with the winner being announced two days later.

Candidates will have the chance to make their pitch to Labour members at hustings during the party's conference, which takes place at the end of September.

The contest is an unwelcome distraction for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as it has the potential to become a vehicle for unhappy MPs and party members to express their discontent with the leadership.

Phillipson's position as the only cabinet member in the race has helped her secure nominations from those MPs who are loyal to the government.

However, it could harm her in the eyes of party members, who may prefer a candidate who can be independent of the leadership.

Both Ribeiro-Addy and Barker have been critical of the government, with both criticising its position on the war in Gaza.

Ribeiro-Addy has acknowledged she is unlikely to win the contest but wanted to encourage a debate among Labour member about "what's gone wrong" in the party's first year in power.

Many senior Labour figures have said the next leader should be a woman and from outside London to counter what they see as the London-centric and male-dominated party leadership.

Whatever the result, the deputy leader will not become deputy prime minister, as Sir Keir has already appointed David Lammy to the role.

Both positions became vacant after Angela Rayner resigned having admitted that she did not pay enough tax on her £800,000 flat in Hove.

Sir Laurie Magnus, the PM's ethics adviser, found she did get legal advice when buying the property, but failed to seek further expert tax advice as recommended.

Rayner said she took "full responsibility for this error", adding: "It was never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount."