Five Labour MPs will battle it out over the next 12 weeks to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the party.
Sir Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Emily Thornberry all cleared the first hurdle of the leadership contest yesterday after securing the nominations of 22 MP and MEP colleagues.
In the race to replace Tom Watson as deputy leader, all five candidates – Angela Rayner, Dawn Butler, Ian Murray, Richard Burgon and Rosena Allin-Khan – made it through to the next round.
Sir Keir, the shadow Brexit secretary, was the favourite for the leadership among MPs, with 86 nominations, while the favoured candidate of Mr Corbyn’s allies, Rebecca Long-Bailey, came second on 33.
Speaking after the result, Sir Keir said: “I’m pleased to have received the support of colleagues in Parliament to make it to the next phase of this contest.
“This has been a good-natured and respectful start to the debate about the future of the Labour Party. Lots of important issues have been raised by all the candidates.
“Over the coming weeks, I’m looking forward to travelling across the country to listen to members and activists about how together we can restore people’s trust in Labour as a force for good.”
Deputy leadership contender Ian Murray, who is the only Scot in the race, added: “It’s fantastic that we have a diverse range of candidates standing in this contest, and I look forward to debating the future of our party and our country.
“We must change the way our party works, so we are a party for the whole of the UK.”
The contenders will have to pass a second hurdle of gaining nominations from at least 33 constituency Labour parties or three affiliates, of which two must be trade unions, representing at least 5% of affiliate membership.
If they manage to get through that round, they will make the final shortlist from which party members, trade union members, members of affiliated societies and registered supporters will choose a winner with the result expected on April 4.