- The race to become the Labour Party's new deputy leader has become a head-to-head contest between Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell.
- Both Phillipson and Powell successfully reached the required threshold of 80 nominations from fellow Labour MPs to proceed to the final stage.
- Phillipson secured 175 nominations, while Powell garnered 117, disproving earlier speculation that Phillipson might be the only candidate to qualify.
- The contest was initiated following Angela Rayner's resignation as deputy leader after an inquiry found she did not meet ethical standards for ministers regarding a home purchase.
- While the result is due on 25 October, the contest is anticipated to overshadow Labour's annual conference, with some observers considering it a referendum on the prime minister's leadership.
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