Final two candidates confirmed in Labour's deputy leadership race

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former Commons leader Lucy Powell will go head-to-head for Labour's deputy leadership after the other candidates failed to make it through the first round.

Ms Phillipson secured 175 nominations from colleagues by Thursday's 5pm deadline, while Ms Powell was backed by 117 MPs, according to the official tally from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP).

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Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the left-wing candidate, was much further adrift with 24 nominations - well shy of the 80 required to make it through to the next stage.

She announced earlier that she had not hit the threshold, posting on social media: "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."

Nominations only opened on Tuesday, leading to accusations from the left of a "stitch-up" aimed at preventing outsiders from having time to shore up a high level of support. (80 MPs is 20% of the parliamentary party).

Labour's ruling National Executive Committee set the rules of the contest, which was triggered by the resignation of Angela Rayner after she admitted to underpaying stamp duty on a flat she bought in Hove.

Three other candidates - housing minister Alison McGovern, Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker and chair of the foreign affairs select committee Dame Emily Thornberry, all dropped out in the last 24 hours after struggling to get anywhere near the threshold.

Many MPs had wanted a third candidate to make it to the next round to offer an alternative to the membership, as Ms Powell and Ms Phillipson are seen to be similar.

Ms Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, was a member of government until last week when she was sacked in Sir Keir Starmer's reshuffle.

One reluctant backer told Sky News that while she is "more left than Bridget" she is "hardly a socialist".

The contest is an unwelcome distraction for the prime minister, who just last week launched his phase two "reset" following a difficult first year in office and weeks of negative headlines on immigration.

This was before the row over Ms Rayner's tax affairs kicked off - forcing her to also quit as housing secretary and deputy prime minister and sparking a wider government reshuffle.

Some are seeing the race as a referendum on Sir Keir's leadership, with those unhappy with the direction of the party more likely to get behind Ms Powell. However she has not been openly critical of the prime minister, vowing to act as a "bridge for all parts" of the party in a statement after the results came in.

"At a time when there are forces trying to spread division and hatred, Labour must be the voice of unity and hope," she added.

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Meanwhile Ms Phillipson, who is popular with MPs loyal to the government, promised to give party members a "strong voice at the cabinet table".

She added: "My message to members is simple: I want to unite our party and our movement, deliver the change our country needs and beat Reform."

The two finalists will now have to gain the backing from either three of Labour's affiliate organisations, including two trade unions, or 5% of constituency parties, in order to make it onto the ballot paper for the final vote of the membership.

The result will be announced on 25th October, with the contest threatening to overshadow the upcoming annual party conference at the end of September.

The deputy leader has the potential to be a powerful and influential figure as the link between members and the parliamentary Labour Party, and will have a key role in election campaigns. They can't be sacked by Sir Keir as they have their own mandate.

However, whoever wins is unlikely to be made deputy prime minister. That position has gone to David Lammy, the former foreign secretary who is now also the justice secretary.

(c) Sky News 2025: Final two candidates confirmed in Labour's deputy leadership race