Labour deputy leadership contest kicks off as MPs race to succeed Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner's replacement as Labour's deputy leader "definitely" needs to be a woman and someone from outside London, Harriet Harman has said.

The Labour veteran and former deputy leader said the vacant post should also be filled by someone who is "complementary" to the Prime Minister - rather than a "counterpoint".

She added: "I think that, in terms of extending the breadth of the leadership, it probably needs to be somebody from outside London and it definitely needs to be a woman. I don't think we can have a male Prime Minister, a man as Deputy Prime Minister and a male Deputy Leader of the party."

Her comments came as Labour's rapid six week contest to replace Ms Rayner kicked off on Monday with MPs scrambling to secure nominations. At an emergency meeting the party's governing body - the National Executive Committee (NEC) - agreed for a new deputy to be in place by 25 October.

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Under a fast-tracked process MPs wishing to run in the contest must secure the nominations of at least 80 of their fellow MPs by 5pm on Thursday. No candidate has so far declared they will run, but it is understood the Labour veteran Dame Emily Thornberry has been messaging MPs saying she is thinking of standing.

Lousie Haigh, the former Transport Secretary, has been contacted by MPs and figures in the party urging her to consider standing in the race. MPs are also urging recently ousted Cabinet minister Lucy Powell and former minister Anneliese Dodds, to stand. Other MPs who may consider bids include Stella Creasy and Rosena Allin-Khan, the Tooting MP who came second in the 2020 deputy leadership contest after three rounds of voting.

Housing Minister Alison McGovern refused to rule out running in the contest on Monday.

But Shabana Mahmood, the new Home Secretary who was tipped to throw her hat into the ring, ruled herself out. She told reporters: I'm the Home Secretary, so that is my job, and my top priority is securing our borders. I will not be running for deputy leader of the Labour Party."

Dawn Butler also ruled herself out but warned the party "must not shy away from a fair and open process when selecting our next Deputy Leader".

The high-bar of 80 nominations means it is unlikely a figure from the left of the party will reach the ballot paper. One MP on the left of the party said they will be searching for someone who "at least voted against the PIP cuts" earlier this year.

On Monday evening Keir Starmer also addressed MPs at the first meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) since he was forced to reshuffle his Cabinet on Friday. It is understood the Prime Minister will not publicly endorse a candidate in the deputy leadership race.

He opened the meeting by paying tribute to Angela Rayner. The PM is also understood to have referenced the difficult week the Deputy PM had last week.

He also congratulated his new team, following the reshuffle, as well as thanked the entire Labour Party, including those who have worked on the frontbench for their work in the last year.

Ahead of his first Cabinet meeting with his newly shake-up top team tomorrow, Mr Starmer spoke about growth being “essential” to his next phase of Government - delivery.

He told MPs “we have to fight” if we want to build houses for the next generation, if we want transport infrastructure so people can get to work and want every child to go as far as their talent can take them.

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