Phillipson and Powell lead Labour deputy race after Rayner exit

Labour’s contest to replace Angela Rayner as party deputy leader has crystallised into a head to head between Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former Commons leader Lucy Powell after a fasttracked nomination process that has inflamed tensions across the party. Nominations from Labour MPs closed on Thursday evening, with final figures showing Phillipson secured 175 MP backers and Powell 117, while leftwing candidate Bell Ribeiro Addy fell short with 24, Labour officials said.

The contest was triggered by Rayner’s resignation last week after an independent adviser on ministerial interests concluded she had breached the ministerial code over underpaid stamp duty on a flat. Rayner also left government roles as deputy prime minister and housing secretary. Prime Minister Keir Starmer quickly reshuffled his top team, appointing David Lammy as deputy prime minister, and said the winner of the party deputy leadership election will not automatically receive a government post.

The rules set by Labour’s National Executive Committee required candidates to secure nominations from 80 of the party’s roughly 399 MPs by 5pm on Thursday to proceed. Phillipson was the first to pass that...