Bookies Favour Bridget Phillipson in Deputy Labour Leader Race

by Roy Brindley, 10 September 2025

The race to become Deputy Leader of the Labour Party is underway. Bridget Phillipson is the early betting favourite, but this is a marathon and not a sprint.

Bridget Phillipson is one of six females hoping to replace Angela Rayner as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. @ Getty Images

Key Facts:

• The race to become Deputy Leader of the Labour Party is now on.
• Cabinet member, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, is the bookies’ favourite.
• The result will be announced on Saturday, 25 October.

At the beginning of September, Angela Rayner lost three jobs – Deputy Prime Minister, Housing Secretary, and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party – when an ethics investigation found she had breached the ministerial code due to underpayment of stamp duty when purchasing a new home in East Sussex.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer quickly appointed David Lammy as the new Deputy Prime Minister and Steve Reed as the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The role of Deputy Leader of the ruling party has not been filled; its appointment is made through an election by Labour Party members and affiliated supporters. It is a marathon and not a sprint. Like all good races, online betting sites are keen to take bets on the outcome.

What Is the Deputy Labour Party Leader Election Process?

To qualify, nominees must be current Labour MPs and secure the backing of at least 20 per cent of the Parliamentary Labour Party — currently 80 MPs. The deadline for submitting these nominations is 5 pm on Thursday, 11 September.

Once nominated, candidates must also gain wider support by securing either:

• Garner endorsements from five per cent of Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs).
• Gain backing from at least three affiliated organisations (including a minimum of two trade unions), representing at least five per cent of the affiliated membership.

This second stage runs from Saturday 13 September to Saturday 27 September.

Candidates who meet these requirements will be placed on the ballot for a vote by all Labour Party members and affiliated supporters. Voting will open on Wednesday, 8 October and close at 12 pm on Thursday, 23 October. The result will be announced on Saturday, 25 October.

Here’s how Labour will decide their new deputy leader 👇 pic.twitter.com/EU2RLVoNQo

— Serena Barker-Singh (@serenabarksing) September 8, 2025

Six in the Ring, Including a Heavyweight

So far, six hopefuls have put their hat into the ring, all of whom are female. As a Cabinet member, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has the highest profile. Lucy Powell – sacked as the government’s leader of the House of Commons last Friday – is another familiar name.

Others keen to get a power hand are Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Foreign Affairs Committee chair Dame Emily Thornberry, backbencher Paula Barker and newly appointed Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Alison McGovern. More names could enter the fray ahead of nominations closing on Thursday.

Phillipson Is Odds On, Starmer Is Not

The betting markets on the Deputy Labour Party Leadership contest are rapidly changing. However, as the 5 pm, Thursday, 11 September deadline approaches, Bridget Phillipson stands firm as the odds-on favourite.

On the betting exchanges – usually the best barometer of the outcome of political events – the MP for Houghton and Sunderland South trades as the 1.6 (or 8/13) market principal. Lucy Powell is the second choice of punters.

Top-priced 5/1, Wes Sterling is considered the person most likely to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader when the Prime Minister leaves his role. 13/10 is the price on Starmer to be the Prime Minister at the time of the next election. And bookmakers believe the election will likely be in 2029 (or later). It is a scenario quoted at 4/5 odds.