Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson has emerged as an early front runner in the race to be deputy leader of the Labour Party.

The role became available Angela Rayner stepped down on Friday (5 September) after she was found to have breached the ministerial code.

Rayner came under increasing pressure to resign after admitting she underpaid £40,000 ($54,000) in stamp duty on a £800,000 ($1.08 million) flat she bought in May. She told Sky News that she made a mistake after legal experts she had consulted did not accurately “take account” of her circumstances. Last week, she referred herself to the independent adviser on ministers’ interests, Sir Laurie Magnus.

He shared his findings in a letter to the prime minister, in which he said that while Rayner, who was also the housing secretary

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