Barker and Thornberry pull out of deputy Labour leader race

Emily Thornberry and Paula Barker have both been barred from the Labour deputy leadership contest, leaving three candidates in the running to replace Angela Rayner. Candidates must secure the support of 80 MPs by Thursday afternoon to progress to the next stage, a threshold that Thornberry and Barker appeared unlikely to reach. The position of backbench MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy has also been called into question ahead of the 5 p.m. deadline. So far, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former minister Lucy Powell are the two confirmed candidates advancing to the next round.

Phillipson is currently the frontrunner, having gained at least 116 nominations from her parliamentary colleagues. Powell, dismissed as Commons leader last week, is her nearest rival with 77 nominations. Thornberry, who chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, received 13 nominations, while Barker secured 14. Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, is currently on 15.

Thornberry, announcing her withdrawal on social media, expressed her deep gratitude to Labour members for their support, saying she was honoured to have taken part in a race alongside such talented women. Barker said the next deputy leader must listen to members and be unafraid to raise their concerns with the government. “Being part of a good team doesn’t mean we cannot be transparent,” she added. “Constructive criticism of the government makes us stronger.” Barker has since pledged her support to Lucy Powell, describing her in a tweet as a “positive friend to the government.”

Meanwhile, Housing Minister Alison McGovern abandoned her campaign on Wednesday after struggling to attract sufficient support and has now endorsed Phillipson.

To reach the final ballot, candidates must also secure backing from 5% of local parties or three Labour-affiliated organisations, such as trade unions. Voting will open on 8 October and close on 23 October, with the winner announced two days later. During the party conference, candidates will take part in hustings to present their case to Labour members.

The contest is proving an unwelcome distraction for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as it risks becoming a platform for discontented MPs and members to criticise his leadership. Phillipson’s position as the only Cabinet minister in the race has earned her support from MPs loyal to the government, though this may harm her standing among grassroots members who may prefer a candidate perceived as more independent. Both Ribeiro-Addy and Barker have openly criticised the government, particularly over its handling of the Gaza conflict. Ribeiro-Addy has admitted she is unlikely to win but said she hoped to spark debate among members about the party’s first year in office.

Many senior Labour figures have argued that the next deputy leader should be a woman from outside London, to counter what they see as a leadership dominated by men and London-based politicians. Regardless of the outcome, the new deputy leader will not become Deputy Prime Minister, as Sir Keir has already appointed David Lammy to that role. Both posts became vacant following Angela Rayner’s resignation, after she admitted failing to pay sufficient tax on her £800,000 flat in Hove.

Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, found that while Rayner had obtained legal advice when purchasing the property, she had not sought further tax guidance as recommended. Accepting full responsibility for the error, Rayner said: “It was never my intention to do anything other than pay the correct amount.”