Bridget Phillipson Joins Labour’s Deputy Leader Race
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has made it official. She’s running to replace Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader, and she’s the first cabinet member to do so.
Insiders say she’s Sir Keir Starmer’s pick. With her background and profile, many believe she’s in a strong position to secure the 80 nominations needed to stand.
She represents Houghton and Sunderland South, a constituency rooted in working-class struggles and northern grit.
That ticks a lot of boxes for a party eager to reconnect with communities outside the capital.
“She’s got the backing of enough MPs to secure the required 80 nominations by the deadline,” a Labour source close to the leadership told this paper.
Phillipson’s campaign officially kicks off today at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton.
Delegates there are still digesting last week’s cabinet shake-up, which many have labelled “a right-wing coup”. Party members are restless. They want direction. They want honesty.
About her bid, Phillipson said: “Today I am putting myself forward as a candidate for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party, to unite our great party and deliver for working people.”
Her story is one she’s not shy about sharing. “I am a proud working-class woman from the northeast.
I am running to be Deputy Leader of @UKLabour.
As a proud working-class woman from the North East, I have come from a tough council street all the way to the Cabinet.
I will be a strong voice to unite our Party, take the fight to Reform, and deliver for our country.
— Bridget Phillipson (@bphillipsonMP) September 9, 2025
I have come from a single-parent family on a tough council street, all the way to the cabinet, determined to deliver better life chances for young people growing up in our country.”
Phillipson’s approach hasn’t always been popular. She’s championed policies that challenge the status quo, most notably, her push to slap VAT on private school fees in order to fund thousands more teachers in state schools.
“I’ve taken on powerful vested interests in the education sector, and even as they threw everything at me, I have never taken a backwards step. I will bring that same determination to every battle ahead of us.”
She’s also quick to call out the dangers facing the country. “Because make no mistake: we are in a fight. We all know the dangers Reform poses to our country.”
Phillipson’s message is clear: Labour can fight, win and remain true to its values. “But not only am I ready for it, I’ve proven we can do it.
I’ve shown we can beat Farage in the northeast, while staying true to the Labour Party’s values of equality, fairness and social justice.
With me as deputy leader, we will beat them right across the country and unite to deliver the opportunity that working people across this great country deserve.”
Phillipson won’t have it all her own way. Former shadow cabinet minister Emily Thornberry has also thrown her hat in the ring.
She’s promised to speak out when needed, rather than simply going along with party leadership decisions. “We fought hard for a Labour government. But we’ve made mistakes and must listen,” she said, highlighting welfare reform and Gaza as key issues.
Other potential candidates include Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Paula Barker, both considered to be from Labour’s left wing.
Lucy Powell, recently ousted from her ministerial role, is also thought to be considering a bid. Meanwhile, Louise Haigh, once a favourite from outside the leadership circle, has confirmed she won’t stand.
Support is already gathering behind Phillipson’s bid. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has backed her, saying it’s time for the party’s leadership to reflect voices beyond London.
“I think without being disrespectful to some brilliant women in London who are standing like Emily Thornberry, I’ve got a lot of respect for, I can well understand why lots of my colleagues are saying we should have a deputy leader from outside London to broaden perspectives, broaden the base,” he said.
With this endorsement, Phillipson’s campaign has momentum. Whether it’s enough to carry her to victory remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Bridget Phillipson is positioning herself as Labour’s bold, unapologetic voice for working people outside the capital.
