Labour's infighting stepped up a gear today as Bridget Phillipson entered the deputy leader contest.
The Education Secretary confirmed she is running to replace Angela Rayner and 'unite our great party'.
The move makes Ms Phillipson the de facto Downing Street candidate for the role. And it lines up a potential clash with former Cabinet colleague Lucy Powell, who has been backed by Andy Burnham - often seen as a successor to Keir Starmer.
Nominations open today, with hopefuls needing to gain support from at least 80 MPs before 5pm on Thursday.
Ms Phillipson said: 'I am a proud working-class woman from the north east. 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.
