Labour MPs back Phillipson and Powell in deputy leadership contest

No 10's pick for Labour deputy leader, Bridget Phillipson, will face the ousted cabinet minister Lucy Powell in a race widely seen as a referendum for party members on Keir Starmer's leadership.

- Jessica Elgot

With Downing Street in turmoil after the sacking of the US ambassador, Peter Mandelson, Powell clinched 117 MPs' nominations, taking her over the threshold to enter the ballot of Labour members. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the leftwing Labour MP, failed to make the cut-off.

Phillipson, the education secretary, had won enough nominations from MPs by Wednesday night but added to her tally of endorsements yesterday, reaching 175.

Phillipson said: "I am so proud to have received well over half the nominations made by Labour MPs, from all wings of our party and from all corners of the country.

"Labour only wins when our party comes together: that is why I plan to give a voice at the cabinet table to all parts of our movement so that we have the best chance of delivering a second term.

"My message now to Labour party members is simple: back me to unite our party and our movement so we can beat Reform at the next election and build the Britain our children deserve."