The gloves are off in the fight to become the next deputy Labour leader.

Party members have until noon next Thursday to vote for either education secretary Bridget Phillipson or former Commons leader Lucy Powell .

If the bookies are right, the race already looks to be all over bar the shouting, with Powell the heavy odds-on favourite to be announced as the winner on October 25.

That might explain why Phillipson delivered her strongest criticism of Powell yet when speaking to HuffPost UK this week – warning that electing her rival will cost Labour the next election.

Throughout the campaign, Phillipson has emphasised the fact that as a cabinet minister – unlike her sacked rival – she will be able to take Labour members’ concerns directly to the heart of government.

“I’m standing

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