Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former Commons leader Lucy Powell look set for a showdown for Labour’s deputy leadership, after the only other remaining candidate failed to get enough support.
Left-wing backbencher Bell Riberio-Addy said she had not secured the 80 MP nominations needed by 17:00 on Thursday to progress.
Phillipson had already got enough supporters a day before the deadline, while Powell was just three short by Wednesday evening.
In the next stage, the contenders have to win the backing of 5% of local parties or three Labour-affiliated groups, such as a trade union, to go through to a ballot of members.
Posting on social media after nominations closed, Ribeiro-Addy said: “Unfortunately, I have not secured the high number of nominations required to proceed in the deputy leadership contest.
“I am disappointed that the full range of Labour members’ views will not be represented on the ballot paper.”
The contest was triggered by the resignation of Angela Rayner, after she failed to pay enough tax on her £800,000 flat in Hove.
The winner will not become deputy prime minister, as Rayner was, because that position has been handed to Justice Secretary David Lammy.
But the position of deputy leader is a potentially powerful one, as a link between the Labour membership and the party leadership – and whoever wins will be at the forefront of Labour election campaigns.
Crucially, they cannot be sacked by the party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, as they will have their own mandate.
Voting for the next deputy leader is likely to open for Labour members on 8 October and close on 23 October, with the winner being announced two days later.
The remaining candidates will have an opportunity to woo Labour members at hustings during the party’s conference in Liverpool at the end of September.
The contest opens up chances for unhappy MPs and party members to express their discontent with the leadership, potentially overshadowing the big ministerial speeches.
Phillipson – the only cabinet member left in the race – emerged as the early frontrunner after attracting support from MPs who are loyal to the government.
But party members may prefer a candidate who is prepared to challenge Sir Keir, potentially harming Phillipson’s chances.
Powell – who was recently sacked from her cabinet role in a ministerial reshuffle – may attract the support of Labour MPs dissatisfied with the performance of Sir Keir’s government and its policies.
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.
