- Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, has become the first candidate to secure the 80 MP nominations required to get on the ballot for Labour's deputy leadership contest.
- Her main rival, sacked former minister Lucy Powell, is just three nominations short of the threshold, with the deadline for nominations set for 5pm on Thursday.
- Should Ms Powell secure the remaining nominations, the contest is expected to become a two-horse race, potentially serving as a referendum on Sir Keir Starmer's leadership among party members.
- Other candidates, including Dame Emily Thornberry, Paula Barker, and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, are significantly trailing in the nomination count.
- The contest has already sparked controversy, with criticisms regarding the rules, the online hustings format, and the short window for securing nominations.
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