Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell Emerge as Main Contenders in Labour Deputy Leadership Race

Published: 11 September 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

Labour’s deputy leadership contest is narrowing into a two-horse race, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former cabinet minister Lucy Powell emerging as the frontrunners, while other hopefuls in the field have struggled to gain momentum.

Phillipson crossed the crucial threshold of 80 nominations with ease on Wednesday evening, securing the support of 116 MPs. Powell, however, remains just below the required mark, holding 77 nominations at the latest count. While three other candidates—Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Paula Barker and Emily Thornberry—have yet to make significant progress, with each receiving fewer than 15 nominations, the contest has already crystallised around the two leading figures. Alison McGovern, the communities minister, withdrew from the race earlier in the day, publicly endorsing Phillipson.

Behind the parliamentary numbers, the contest is shaping up as an uneasy internal battle for Labour. Several MPs privately suggested that a showdown between Powell and Phillipson represents more than just a deputy leadership contest, but a proxy fight between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who is seen as a potential future leadership challenger. One Labour MP described it as “the first skirmish between Burnham and [Labour strategist] Morgan McSweeney.”

Powell’s supporters have dismissed such characterisations as sexist and reductive, insisting her candidacy stands on its own merits. Still, her appeal among centrist and soft-left MPs is growing. At a hustings hosted by the so-called “red wall” group, Powell reportedly impressed members, some of whom were expected to back Phillipson. The Tribune group of MPs, associated with the soft left, also voted to support her. “She is definitely becoming the magnet for those of us who want a change,” said one of her backers.

Phillipson, however, remains the favourite among MPs overall. Her allies point to her track record as a north-east England MP, where she has battled the influence of Reform UK, as proof of her ability to connect with voters beyond Labour’s traditional base. “We have a broader cross-section of the PLP, MPs from every wing, and considerably more new MPs,” one source close to her campaign said.

Despite her strong position, Phillipson’s camp has expressed frustration over personalised media briefings, some of which have sought to portray her as “robotic.” Meanwhile, frontbenchers are expected to rally around her, though there have been mixed signals from Downing Street about whether ministers are under any formal expectation to back her.

Powell, who was ousted from the cabinet earlier this year, is seen as a formidable organiser within the party. Her candidacy has attracted MPs frustrated with Starmer’s leadership style and policy direction, especially after Emily Thornberry’s attempt to mount a challenge with sharp criticism of the government’s handling of the economy, welfare, and the Gaza war failed to gain traction. Thornberry’s proximity to Starmer’s north London constituency was also cited by some MPs as a factor working against her.

McGovern’s withdrawal signalled the shifting momentum of the race. While she had earlier argued for Labour to take on the far right to safeguard Britain’s progressive values, her campaign ultimately failed to gather the numbers. The chaotic organisation of the contest has added to MPs’ frustrations, with tube strikes and booking issues forcing the cancellation of several hustings, including one that was later moved online.

From the party’s left flank, Ribeiro-Addy has voiced anger at what she calls “anti-democratic” rules limiting participation in the contest. She warned that sidelining activists would only drive members away, weakening Labour’s grassroots energy. “We are losing the people that win us elections, that crowd the streets: the activists. They are completely disenfranchised,” she said, arguing that internal debate could showcase maturity rather than disunity.

Yet many MPs remain deeply reluctant to nominate candidates from the left, citing their experience under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. As one MP bluntly put it: “We’ve tried broadening the debate. Now I want to try narrowing it.”

With Phillipson’s commanding lead in nominations and Powell’s growing support among those seeking a counterweight to Starmer, the deputy leadership contest is rapidly shaping into one of the most consequential internal battles Labour has faced in recent years. Its outcome may not only determine who holds the party’s second-highest post but also influence Labour’s direction in government and the balance of power within its ranks.