Alison McGovern became the first person to drop out of the race to become Labour deputy leader tonight with just 24 hours to go to get on the ballot paper.
The Housing Minister admitted she was not going to get the 80 nominations from MPs required to get through to a vote by members.
Instead she threw her support behind Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has been installed as Downing Street‘s de facto choice to replace Angela Rayner.
It comes as they battle to prevent an out-and-out left-winger hostile to the leadership from making it through to avoid a potentially embarrassing and damaging split at the top of the party.
With hustings happening today and the deadline for MP nominations 5pm tomorrow, Ms Phillipson appears almost certain to meet the threshold of 80 to make the final vote of party members.
But eyes are turning to who else will be in the run-off, with speculation that activists could end up backing the most left-wing option available.
Sacked minister Lucy Powell, a close ally of Sir Keir’s rival Andy Burnham, and Emily Thornberry, who has promised to focus on Gaza and a wealth tax, are both in the five-strong field.
The Housing Minister admitted she was not going to get the 80 nominations from MPs required to get through to a vote by members.
In a statement on social media, Ms McGovern said: ‘Despite picking up support today it is clear that the momentum of this contest has shifted and I am not going to progress to the next stage.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has been installed as Downing Street ‘s de facto choice to replace Angela Rayner
Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Paula Barker, seen as the most left-wing contenders, have both criticised the process for hampering their chances.
There are claims that allies of Ms Phillipson have been telling MPs it would be better if she was crowned deputy unopposed.
In a statement on social media, Ms McGovern said: ‘Despite picking up support today it is clear that the momentum of this contest has shifted and I am not going to progress to the next stage.
‘I am pulling out of the race now to allow my supporters to switch their nominations to one of the remaining candidates before the deadline.
‘I want to thank everyone who has offered me support and encouragement in this race. I will be nominating my friend and colleague Bridget Phillipson as the candidate best-placed to unite our party and take the fight to our opponents.’
She also pledged to continue making a ‘progressive argument’ regardless of the outcome of the contest, saying it was the only way of ‘standing up to the far right and the populists’.
Ms Barker told Times Radio that the main hustings was too late tonight.
‘We are on a one-line whip on Thursday which means that we don’t have to be in Parliament. So lots of colleagues will be travelling back to their constituencies at the time the hustings is taking place,’ she said.
‘I really don’t think that that is the best democratic way for us to run this contest.’
Sacked minister Lucy Powell (left), a close ally of Sir Keir’s rival Andy Burnham, and Emily Thornberry (right), who has promised to focus on Gaza and a wealth tax, are both in the field
Keir Starmer’s allies face a battle to stop left-wingers getting on the ballot
Dame Emily played down the problem of her being a London MP today
Dame Emily swiped at Ms Phillipson as she launched her campaign, promising not to ‘just nod along’ with the leadership
She also complained about the truncated contest, saying: ‘We have a very, very narrow window of opportunity.
‘That is remiss of the party and I would hope that, no matter who the deputy leader is at the end of this process, one of the first things they do is look at our internal processes. There is definitely a need for a culture shift – the party must be far more inclusive.’
Dame Emily swiped at Ms Phillipson as she launched her campaign, promising not to ‘just nod along’ with the leadership.
She listed welfare, Gaza, a wealth tax and planned changes to special educational needs provision as her key issues.
