Phillipson and Powell emerge as final contenders in Labour’s bruising deputy leadership race

The Labour Party’s search for a new deputy leader has boiled down to a head-to-head clash between Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former Commons leader Lucy Powell.

The contest, sparked by Angela Rayner’s dramatic resignation last week, has thrown open questions about the party’s future direction, its balance of power, and how it will respond to challenges from both the right and left of British politics.

By Thursday’s nomination deadline, only two candidates had cleared the daunting hurdle of winning 80 MPs’ support. Phillipson secured the most backers, while Powell emerged as her sole challenger.

Phillipson, who represents Houghton and Sunderland South, has positioned herself as the candidate of stability. As the only serving Cabinet minister to enter the race, she has pledged to work hand-in-hand with Keir Starmer’s government. Her campaign launch speech struck a combative tone, insisting she would fight Reform UK head-on while holding tight to Labour’s core values. “I’ve proven we can beat Farage in the North East,” she told supporters, framing herself as a pragmatic fighter with local credentials.

On Tuesday, she used her platform at the Trades Union Congress to vow that Labour’s long-promised Employment Bill would be delivered “in full, no ifs, no buts”. That line was seen as both a reassurance to the party faithful and a clear signal to unions worried about potential watering-down of workers’ rights.

Powell, by contrast, has pitched herself as the unity candidate. The Manchester Central MP, who was abruptly sacked as leader of the House of Commons last week, insists her strength lies in listening and bringing Labour’s broad church together. “Living with my family in my home city has rooted my politics in people’s everyday hopes and fears,” she said. “As deputy leader, I will ensure those hopes shape everything we do.”

Her campaign is also notable for the backing she has drawn from figures frustrated by what they see as a narrow, overly centralised approach from Starmer’s team. Powell has promised to amplify grassroots voices and ensure members feel represented.

The next stage of the contest will test both candidates’ reach beyond Westminster. To make the ballot, they must now win nominations from either 5% of constituency Labour parties or three affiliated organisations, including at least two trade unions. If successful, the final decision will rest with Labour’s membership, who will vote between 8 and 23 October. The result is due to be announced on 25 October.

Rayner’s departure created both political shock and an opportunity. Once one of Labour’s most recognisable figures, she resigned after admitting she had underpaid tax on a property sale. Her exit leaves a gap not only in the Cabinet but also in the party’s cultural identity, where she had served as a bridge between grassroots members and the leadership.

The eventual winner will help shape Labour’s response to rising discontent from the left, who have attacked Starmer’s handling of welfare policy and the UK’s position on the Gaza conflict. At the same time, Labour faces a strong challenge from Reform UK on its right flank.

Party elders have weighed in. Former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett has questioned whether the deputy leadership role itself needs reform, while former deputy leader Harriet Harman has urged Labour to ensure the position helps broaden the party’s reach.

For Phillipson and Powell, however, the fight is now personal. Both women have survived turbulent careers, both see themselves as authentic Labour voices, and both know this contest is not just about supporting Starmer but also about defining Labour’s soul in the years ahead.

The final weeks of hustings and campaigning promise a bruising battle—one that will test loyalty, vision, and the party’s appetite for unity versus confrontationLucy Powell