Phillipson emerges as early favourite in Labour deputy leadership contest

Bridget Phillipson has thrown her hat in the ring for the Labour deputy leadership contest, becoming the early favourite to win as she is most likely to meet the threshold of MP nominations.

- Pippa Crerar

While Labour party members, many of whom are to the left of Keir Starmer's leadership, could be suspicious of the education secretary's role as a serving cabinet minister, she is likely to be seen by MPs as No 10's de facto candidate and so will secure much of the "payroll" vote.

The veteran Labour MP Emily Thornberry; the former Commons leader Lucy Powell; the housing minister, Alison McGovern; the leftwing MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, Bell Ribeiro-Addy; and the Liverpool Wavertree MP, Paula Barker, have also joined the race.

However, in a fast-moving process where hopefuls have until tomorrow afternoon to secure nominations from at least 80 Labour MPs, not all of the six are likely to meet the threshold. A hustings is being held for MPs today.

Senior party figures urged MPs to select a woman from outside London to become Starmer's deputy. They also warned against the contest becoming too inward looking, amid fears it could damage the government as it struggles to get on the front foot in the fight against Reform UK.

Figures released by the parliamentary Labour party last night showed Phillipson leading the race so far, with 44 of the 99 nominations. Powell was second with 35 nominations, followed by Ribeiro-Addy with eight, Thornberry with seven, Barker with three and McGovern with two.