Senior Labour MPs Withdraw Amid Deputy Leader Race for Rayner Successor

Following Angela Rayner's resignation as Labour's deputy leader and deputy prime minister due to an ethics investigation, the party is preparing for a fast-tracked election to fill the deputy leadership role, which is now separated from the deputy prime minister position held by David Lammy. Several senior female Labour MPs, including Shabana Mahmood, Jess Phillips, and Lisa Nandy, have withdrawn from the race, citing concerns about the compressed nomination timetable, potential toxicity of the contest, and personal scrutiny. Labour veteran Baroness Harriet Harman emphasized the need for the new deputy leader to be a woman from outside London to complement Keir Starmer's leadership and broaden the party's appeal. The party's National Executive Committee is expected to set strict nomination rules requiring candidates to secure support from 80 MPs and various affiliate groups, with nominations closing quickly and the ballot scheduled for October. Emily Thornberry, chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, is widely expected to stand as an experienced and independent voice popular with party members. The contest is seen as a pivotal moment ahead of the party conference, with Labour aiming to unify and galvanize its members amid this leadership transition.