The resignation of Angela Rayner on Friday created two vacancies. The first was in her formal role as deputy leader of the Labour party; the second was her unofficial status as the next leader-in-waiting. Bridget Phillipson’s decision to stand to replace her can be seen as a bid to seize both mantles. The Education Secretary announced her bid this morning, declaring that she’s a ‘proud working-class woman from the north east.’ In a statement, she said that ‘I’ve shown we can beat [Nigel] Farage in the north-east, while staying true to the Labour party’s values of equality, fairness and social justice.’ Her role in cabinet means she will, rightly or wrongly, be seen by colleagues as the favoured candidate of No. 10.
In a statement, she said that ‘I’ve shown we can beat Farage in the north-east, while staying true to the Labour party’s values of equality, fairness and social justice’
Such a perception carries risks – but potential rewards too. The current mood in the Parliamentary Labour party (PLP) favours a candidate who will act as a foil to Keir Starmer. Phillipson clearly ticks some of those boxes: her background, most obviously, but crucially, her record at the Department for Education too. Her work in rolling back the coalition government’s academy reforms has earned her much scorn across the political spectrum. Yet it has won her fans among the education unions and the Labour membership. Phillipson was the fifth most popular cabinet minister in the most recent LabourList league table, behind only Ed Miliband, Angela Rayner, Hilary Benn and John Healey. Of these, Phillipson is the only one likely to stand.
At this stage, it is striking that so many would-be contenders for the deputy leadership are ruling themselves out, rather than in. That is due largely to the high threshold to get on the ballot. Successful candidates need 80 MPs: 20 per cent of the PLP. Phillipson is one of just two declared names so far: the other is Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who will struggle to muster more than her 30 fellow members in the Socialist Campaign Group. Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, is not standing; neither is Shabana Mahmood, the new Home Secretary, or Rosena Allin-Khan.
A key voting bloc will be the 2024 intake, who make up more than half of the PLP. One new MP says ‘We want to help, not hinder Keir.’ Phillipson will likely be viewed within Downing Street as the most ‘helpful’ name in contention.
Among Starmer-sceptics, there is a groundswell of support for Lucy Powell, axed as Leader of the House last Friday. Andy Burnham, the influential mayor of Greater Manchester, has said he wants her to stand. One MP told me last night ‘There’s a lot of sympathy for Lucy right now.’ As an MP for a north-west constituency, the perception in some quarters is that she is better placed to be a critical friend of Keir Starmer than Emily Thornberry, a fellow north London lawyer. Powell has made no formal declaration yet. But with such a high threshold, she will need to move quickly to secure the necessary 80 names by Thursday.
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