Phillipson early fave as she backs worker rights bill

SIX female Labour MPs threw their hats into the ring in the race to replace Angela Rayner as deputy leader yesterday.

- BY ASHLEY COWBURN Deputy Political Editor and LIZZY BUCHAN

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson appeared an early front-runner, promising “no watering down” of workers’ rights reforms.

Unions fear the changes championed by Ms Rayner could be diluted.

In a well-timed appearance at the Trade Unions Congress conference in Brighton, she said: “Let there be no doubt. One year ago we were elected to deliver this Employment Rights Bill and that is what we will do.”