Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon has made it into the next stage of the
Labour deputy leadership contest at the last minute.
The Leeds East MP managed to secure nominations from 22 parliamentary colleagues by Monday’s 2.30pm deadline, taking him through to the next stage of the race.
A favourite among supporters of exiting party leader
Jeremy Corbyn, Burgon’s chances of success had looked far from certain – at midday on Monday he was still four short of the required threshold.
Among his backers are shadow chancellor John McDonnell, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott and Labour Party chair Ian Lavery.
Burgon, who has been an MP since 2015, promised to be a “campaigning” deputy leader should he win, claiming to take inspiration from John Prescott, who served in the same position under former PM Tony Blair.
Also through to the next round are shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler, Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan and Ian Murray, Labour’s only remaining MP in Scotland.
In the race for the leadership, Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Emily Thornberry all made it though to the next round.
Clive Lewis, a shadow Treasury minister, pulled out of the contest shortly before the deadline this afternoon having accepted he would not receive the required number of nominations.Related... Labour Leadership: Emily Thornberry Through To Next Stage Of Contest Angela Rayner Surges Ahead In Deputy Leader Race – But The Frontrunner Has Competition Angela Rayner Launches Labour Deputy Leadership Bid