Bridget Phillipson emerges as frontrunner in Labour's deputy leadership race

Bridget Phillipson has emerged arsenic the aboriginal frontrunner successful the Labour lawman enactment contention arsenic different candidates scramble to drawback up up of a crunch deadline.

The acquisition caput had the backing of 44 colleagues arsenic of 6pm connected Tuesday, according to the archetypal authoritative tally released by the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) since nominations opened.

Former Commons person Lucy Powell, who was sacked by Sir Keir Starmer successful his reshuffle past week, is adjacent down with 35, followed by backbenchers Bell Ribeiro-Addy with eight, Dame Emily Thornberry with 7 and Paula Barker with three.

Housing curate Alison McGovern is presently coming past with 2 nominations, though sources connected her run squad suggested this did not bespeak the existent level of enactment down her.

Candidates person until 5pm connected Thursday to person the backing of 80 colleagues, meaning determination is inactive plentifulness near to play for arsenic little than 100 MPs person made their authoritative nominations truthful far, retired of 398.

A caller tally volition beryllium published by the PLP connected Wednesday evening, though MPs whitethorn publically uncover who they are backing earlier then.

Those not connected the PLP's existent database see Southport MP Patrick Hurley, who has thrown his value down Ms McGovern successful a station connected X.

Candidates volition person the accidental to woo undecided colleagues during a hustings lawsuit connected Wednesday evening, but determination are fears it could descend into chaos arsenic the lawsuit volition beryllium held online only.

That means hundreds of MPs volition person conscionable 1 hr to quiz the six contenders virtually. It is not wide if oregon however the lawsuit volition beryllium moderated.

Ms Barker, the MP for Liverpool Wavertree, expressed interest astir the logistics of the contest.

Asked if she feels assured she tin get the numbers, she told Sky News: "I deliberation the precise choky timeframe and the information hustings for MPs are being held online 8pm - 9pm erstwhile the bulk of colleagues are travelling location undoubtedly compounds the issue.

"Of course, that is an contented to beryllium addressed by whoever wins the contention and astatine this infinitesimal successful clip we are each successful the aforesaid boat."

However, a Labour root defended the decision, saying: "There's frankly nary convenient clip to bash it. Ministers volition person engaged diaries serving the nationalist during the day... precedence has to stay nationalist service."

Ms Ribeiro-Addy has besides criticised the contest's rules, telling Sky News' Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge that having conscionable a fewer days to get 80 nominations "doesn't consciousness right", particularly fixed the victor is "ultimately decided by members".

Candidates who marque it done the archetypal circular indispensable n spell connected to triumph the enactment of either 5% of Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) oregon 3 organisations affiliated to the party, 2 of which indispensable beryllium commercialized unions.

The palmy candidates volition past look connected the ballot for a ballot of each enactment members and affiliated enactment supporters, with results declared connected 25 October.

The six-week timeline was acceptable by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee but volition beryllium overseen by the enactment machinery who importune they volition enactment with each candidates to springiness them a just hearing.

There are galore MPs and ministers who privation to spot the contention done quickly, to debar it being a distraction from the government's priorities.

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Candidates marque their pitch

The contention was triggered by the resignation of erstwhile lawman premier minister and lodging caput Angela Rayner aft she admitted underpaying stamp work connected a level she bought successful Hove.

Following calls for her replacement to beryllium a Northern woman, each six candidates who entered are female, though Ms Ribeiro-Addy and Dame Emily correspond seats successful London.

Ms Phillipson and Ms McGovern are seen arsenic candidates that would stay loyal to Number 10, which immoderate MPs privation to spot to debar the enactment becoming much divided. They some honed successful connected their Northern roots portion pitching themselves arsenic the campaigner to instrumentality connected Reform UK erstwhile announcing their lawman enactment bids connected Tuesday.

Clapham and Brixton Hill MP Ms Ribeiro-Addy is seen arsenic the left-wing candidate, and has the backing of galore MPs successful the Socialist Campaign Group (SCG) specified arsenic Corbynite Richard Burgon.

However, Ms Baker, a erstwhile commercialized national authoritative and Ms Thornberry, seat of the overseas affairs committee, person besides vowed to situation the authorities connected issues similar payment and Gaza.

Manchester Central MP Ms Powell was precocious ousted from authorities and said she decided to basal "after overmuch encouragement" from colleagues.

A Survation survey of 1,308 Labour members who work the LabourList website suggested Ms Phillipson was the astir fashionable prime for the role.