Bridget Phillipson launched her campaign for Labour’s deputy leadership on Monday, urging the party to stay united to secure a second term in government and to prevent electoral gains by Reform UK.
Speaking at the Fire Station music venue in Sunderland, the Houghton and Sunderland South MP framed her bid as a call to heal divisions and to carry on the “campaigning role” embodied by outgoing deputy leader Angela Rayner. Phillipson paid tribute to Rayner, who vacated the deputy leadership after resigning over her tax affairs, and said the party could not afford to “look inwards” or return to “the bad old days of divided Labour Party and open old wounds.”
Phillipson, the education secretary, said she would use the deputy role to give members “a strong voice” at the Cabinet table and pledged to take on Reform UK with “a mandate to do more.” She warned that a fractured party would hand advantage to opponents, saying: “If we turn against each other only one person will win – Nigel Farage - but millions more will lose.” She added: “How did we win last [time]? We came together to show the country a different vision for the future. I won't pretend this government hasn't made mistakes – I've been first to admit it.”
The contest pits Phillipson against former Cabinet colleague Lucy Powell, who lost her post as Commons leader in the reshuffle that followed Rayner’s departure. The contest is being watched as a test of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s authority after the departures of two high-profile figures within a week, Rayner and Lord Mandelson.
Labour candidates must secure the support of 5% of constituency parties or at least three affiliates, including at least two trade unions, to reach the ballot. Balloting for members will open on Oct. 8 and close at 12:00 BST on Oct. 23, with the winner due to be announced on Oct. 25. The deputy leader will not automatically take the title of deputy prime minister in this contest: that role has already been assigned to Justice Secretary David Lammy.
Phillipson was joined in Sunderland by Kim McGuinness, the mayor of the North East, as she sought to frame her campaign as both a continuation of Rayner’s activism and a pledge to broaden Labour’s appeal ahead of future elections. She repeatedly urged colleagues to avoid internal division and to focus on delivering the party’s agenda to voters.
Observers expect the race to highlight differences over party strategy and messaging as Labour seeks to translate its current standing into another parliamentary term while confronting the rise of Reform UK in key areas. The deputy leadership contest will determine who inherits a high-profile platform within the party at a moment of political sensitivity.