Bridget Phillipson set her sights on Labour winning the next election as she launched her campaign to become its next deputy leader today.
The Education Secretary kicked off her campaign in her home town of Sunderland seeking to reunify the fractious party after the resignation of Angela Rayner and furore over the sacking of Peter Mandelson.
In a speech to supporters she urged members to back her to unite the party and secure a second term for Labour.
She vowed to continue the campaigning role of Angela Rayner, who stepped down over her tax affairs, and will point to Ms Rayner's achievements in the role while also a Cabinet minister.
Ms Phillipson is up against her former Cabinet colleague Lucy Powell, who lost her post as Commons leader in the reshuffle triggered when Ms Rayner quit.
