The dust is still settling from Angela Rayner’s dramatic resignation from government and the major cabinet reshuffle that followed.
But one hole left by her departure won’t be filled until towards the end of next month – and it has the potential to turn into a real headache for Sir Keir Starmer.
When Rayner stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary last Friday, she also left her job as deputy leader of the Labour Party.
It’s easy to mix up that role with DPM, but it’s all about internal party politics rather than anything on a national scale.
Still, the race to replace Rayner as deputy leader is worth keeping an eye on, as it could reveal how Labour and union members really think Starmer’s government is going.
Picking a critical voice to be his number two would send a message that he needs to change direction, while choosing a loyalist would suggest they still have his back.
We should get a result on October 25, after a rapid contest that begins with nominations opening today.
Here are the confirmed candidates and a few who might decide to run.
Bridget Phillipson
Want to know more about the government and how their policies affect you?
Hello, I’m Craig Munro and I’m Metro‘s man in Westminster.
Every Wednesday, I write our Alright, Gov? newsletter with insights from behind the scenes in the Houses of Parliament – and how the decisions made there will end up affecting you.
In last week’s newsletter I wrote about the potential ramifications of the Epping hotel decision and whether or not we should be worried about taxes going up.
Click here to sign up
- Pros: Northern woman who represents a northern consituency, working-class background
- Cons: Could be seen as too close to Starmer, as she’s been the Education Secretary since the election
Bridget Phillipson is the first current member of the government to throw their hat into the ring.
Announcing her candidacy, the Education Secretary said she is a ‘a proud working-class woman from the North East’ who grew up in a ‘a single-parent family on a tough council street’.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said this morning he would be ‘very favourable’ to Phillipson but declined to endorse anyone.
However, today is also the day her department launches a new school inspection system which has been criticised by figures within education.
Emily Thornberry
- Pros: Popular within party, lots of experience, offering a voice to counter Starmer
- Cons: From south-east England with a London constituency, middle-class, has a background in law similar to Starmer
One of the big surprises after last year’s election was Starmer’s decision to exclude Dame Emily Thornberry – who had been serving as the shadow attorney general – from his cabinet.
She later took on an influential role as the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and has raised a few criticisms of government decisions recently.
The long-serving MP wrote on X this morning: ‘We fought hard for a Labour government. But we’ve made mistakes and must listen.’
But there has been criticism from within Labour over her initial stance on Gaza – and would it be too much to have a Sir and a Dame at the top of the party?
Bell Ribeiro-Addy
- Pros: Strong voice offering an alternative view to Starmer, popular on left of Labour
- Cons: From London and represents London constituency, relatively new MP
Bell Ribeiro-Addy became the first Labour MP to announce she was running to become the party’s deputy leader.
The tone of her campaign was clear in her post on X, which said: ‘I look forward to explaining why, over the three short and undemocratic days we have to do so.’
Unlikely Thornberry or Phillipson, she has never served under Starmer in either government or opposition and she’s been more consistent in her criticisms of the PM.
Electing Ribeiro-Addy would certainly send a very strong signal – but she may struggle to reach the 80 MP threshold of support needed to reach the first stage of nominations.
Alison McGovern
- Pros: Northern woman who represents Birkenhead in Parliament, popular among Starmer loyalists
- Cons: Could be seen as too close to Number 10 by those wanting a counterbalance
Alison McGovern may not be one of the better-known figures in the government by the public, but she’s trusted with important roles by the PM.
Until last week’s reshuffle, she was Minister for Employment, and she is now the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution.
She has not confirmed she will be running for the deputy leadership, but MPs are reportedly encouraging her to run and she refused to rule it out when asked by a reporter yesterday.
There have been whisperings that she might be Starmer’s preferred candidate, but it’s unclear if Phillipson’s decision to run has affected that.
Lucy Powell
- Pros: Experience at the top of the party, Manchester-born MP who represents Manchester
- Cons: Could slip through cracks between being seen as too close to government and too likely to hold grudge from sacking
Until last week, Lucy Powell was the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council – but in the reshuffle, she was replaced in both roles by Alan Johnson.
This threatens to put her in an awkward position, where those pushing for a voice to counter Starmer see her as too close, while those looking for a loyalist worry she may feel slighted.
In a letter posted after she was sacked, Powell wrote it had not been an ‘easy time for the government’, saying people ‘want to see change and improvements to their difficult lives’.
Some could see that as preparing the ground for a run at deputy leader, but she hasn’t confirmed yet.
Who has ruled out a run?
Several people who were speculated as potential deputy leaders have ruled themselves out in the past day.
They include Dawn Butler, the MP who is positioning herself as a potential future Labour candidate for Mayor of London; Shabana Mahmood, the big winner from the reshuffle who is now Home Secretary; and Louise Haigh, the former Transport Secretary from the left of the party.
What happens to Angela Rayner now?
Angela Rayner stepped down from all of her government and party roles amid a row over her tax affairs last week.
However, she remains the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne and will continue to sit in Parliament on the Labour backbenches.
In her resignation letter, she wrote: ‘For me, being in office is a chance to change the lives of the people I grew up alongside. I will do whatever I can to continue doing so.’
Addressing Starmer, she added: ‘Thank you for your leadership and for your friendship. I will continue to serve you, our country and the party and movement I love in the weeks, months and years ahead.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
