Ms Phillipson, the Education Secretary, and Ms Powell, the former Commons Leader, are expected to go head-to-head in the next stage in the contest to replace Angela Rayner .

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson confirmed she is running to replace Angela Rayner and 'unite our great party'.

Leftwing MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy has also declared she wants to run and Dame Emily Thornberry is looking for nominations