Bridget Phillipson has taken an early lead in the race to become Labour’s deputy leader.

The education secretary is one of six MPs so far to throw their hats into the ring to succeed Angela Rayner , who resigned last Friday.

The others are local government minister Alison McGovern, former Commons leader Lucy Powell, foreign affairs committee chair Emily Thornberry , Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Paula Barker.

A poll of party members by the LabourList website found that Phillipson has a net favourability rating of plus 39, with Thornberry the next most popular candidate on plus 20.

McGovern is on plus 19, with Powell on plus 1 and Ribeiro-Addy on minus 3.

The candidates need to get nominations from at least 80 of their fellow MPs by 5pm on Thursday to stand a chance of getting onto th

See Full Page