Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and senior backbencher Dame Emily Thornberry have entered the contest to be Labour’s next deputy leader.

Lucy Powell, who was sacked from her government job of leader of the House of Commons last week, has also announced she is running in the race to replace Angela Rayner in the deputy role.

Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, have also said they will run.

Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan have ruled themselves out.

Candidates have until Thursday evening to get nominations from at least 80 Labour MPs in order to take part in the contest.

They will also need the backing of either 5% of local parties, or three Labour-affiliated groups, including two unions.

Those who clear the bar face a vote by party members, with the winner announced on 25 October.

The party is planning hustings at its annual conference at the end of September, giving candidates the chance to make their pitch to Labour members.

Phillipson, the only member of the Cabinet to announce her intention to stand so far, would be expected to be more supportive of the government than rival candidates.

She was first elected to the House of Commons in 2010, and has represented the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland ever since.

In 2021, she became Labour’s shadow education secretary, and following the 2024 general election was given the role of education secretary.

Announcing her decision to run, Phillipson described herself as a “proud working-class woman from the North East” who could bring “determination to every battle ahead of us”.

“Because make no mistake: We are in a fight. We all know the dangers Reform poses our country.

“But not only am I ready for it: I’ve proven we can do it. I’ve shown we can beat Farage in the North East, while staying true to the Labour Party’s values of equality, fairness and social justice.”

Declaring her intention to stand, Dame Emily signalled that, if successful, she would not give the leadership an easy ride.

The Islington South and Finsbury MP said in a post on social media: “We fought hard for a Labour government, but we’ve made mistakes and must listen.

“I will be a voice for the membership, unions, PLP, and our constituents – not just nod along.”

Dame Emily was the party’s shadow attorney general when Labour was in opposition, but was not given a government job by Sir Keir Starmer when the party entered office, instead becoming chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee.

Among her key issues, she listed welfare, Gaza, changes to special education needs and disabilities support and a wealth tax.

Some Labour MPs, as well as the head of the TUC union umbrella group, have urged the government to consider taxes on the rich when it produces its Budget in November.

Lucy Powell, who was sacked as the government’s leader of the House of Commons last Friday, said she had decided to stand after receiving “much encouragement”.

“Living with my family in my home city, Manchester, has rooted my politics in an understanding of people’s everyday hopes and fears,” she added.

“As our deputy leader, I would ensure these are at the heart of what we do and how we operate, bringing together all parts of the party and uniting our broad voter coalition.”

Some in Labour have criticised the tight three-day window for getting MP nominations, which was announced by party bosses on Monday.

Ribeiro-Addy, a backbencher from the left of the party, said: “It is absolutely unfair, and I don’t think it’s what the membership want”.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said Labour needed to have a discussion about “what’s gone wrong” with the party’s direction.

She added that many members and voters were unhappy about UK’s position on the war in Gaza and cuts to welfare.

Earlier this year, the government tried to implement changes that would have save £5.5bn a year by 2030 from the benefits budget, however it was forced into a U-turn following a rebellion by backbench Labour MPs.

Ribeiro-Addy could struggle to win enough nominations from MPs to make it to the next stage of the contest, however if she were elected, she would likely be a critical voice of the Starmer government.

She has previously voted against the government, including on its benefits cuts and decision to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist group.

So far no male candidates have announced their intention to run, and some senior figures in the party, including former deputy leader Harriet Harman, have said the position should be held by a woman.

Whoever wins the contest, David Lammy will remain as deputy prime minister – a role which is appointed by the prime minister, rather than decided by Labour Party members.

Last week, Rayner resigned from the role, as well as her post as housing secretary, after admitting she failed to pay enough tax on her £800,000 flat in Hove.

Sir Laurie Magnus, the PM’s ethics adviser, found she did get legal advice when buying the property, but failed to seek further expert tax advice as recommended.

Rayner said she took “full responsibility for this error”, adding: “It was never my intention to do anything other than pay the right amount.”