DEVELOPING: Thornberry and Barker Abruptly Withdraw from Deputy Labour Leader Contest

Breaking News: Thornberry and Barker Abruptly Withdraw from Deputy Labour Leader Contest Labour MPs Emily Thornberry and Paula Barker have withdrawn from the deputy leader contest, leaving only three candidates in the running to replace Angela Rayner. The sudden withdrawal comes with just hours left for MPs to secure nominations. The move leaves Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former minister Lucy Powell as the frontrunners, with Phillipson already having secured over 116 nominations. Powell, who was sacked as Commons leader last week, trails behind with 77 nominations. Thornberry had gathered 13 nominations, while Barker had 14. The withdrawal of both candidates raises questions about their ability to secure the required 80 nominations by Thursday afternoon. The Labour deputy leadership contest has been marked by a crowded field and intense competition for nominations. With just hours left to go, it remains unclear whether Bell Ribeiro-Addy will be able to meet the 80 nomination threshold. This is a developing story, with further updates expected as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Bbc.*