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| Labour leadership: Jess Phillips quits race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn | Labour leadership: Jess Phillips quits race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Jess Phillips has dropped out of the Labour leadership contest, leaving four candidates in the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn. | Jess Phillips has dropped out of the Labour leadership contest, leaving four candidates in the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn. |
| In a video message to supporters, the Birmingham Yardley MP argued the next leader had to be able to unite the whole Labour movement. | In a video message to supporters, the Birmingham Yardley MP argued the next leader had to be able to unite the whole Labour movement. |
| She said she had to "be honest" with herself - "that person is not me." | She said she had to "be honest" with herself - "that person is not me." |
| Lisa Nandy's campaign has received a major boost after she won the backing of the GMB union. | Lisa Nandy's campaign has received a major boost after she won the backing of the GMB union. |
| Announcing its decision to endorse the Wigan MP, the union's general secretary, Tim Roache, said she was "a breath of fresh air in the debate over Labour's future", and "got the scale of the challenge" facing the party after its fourth election defeat in a row. | Announcing its decision to endorse the Wigan MP, the union's general secretary, Tim Roache, said she was "a breath of fresh air in the debate over Labour's future", and "got the scale of the challenge" facing the party after its fourth election defeat in a row. |
| The endorsement increases the chances of Ms Nandy making it to the final stage of the contest, joining Sir Keir Starmer who has already qualified to get on the ballot. | The endorsement increases the chances of Ms Nandy making it to the final stage of the contest, joining Sir Keir Starmer who has already qualified to get on the ballot. |
| Ms Nandy - who already has the support of the National Union of Mineworkers - said she could "not be more proud", and the next leader's challenge was to "recover our ambition and inspire a movement". | Ms Nandy - who already has the support of the National Union of Mineworkers - said she could "not be more proud", and the next leader's challenge was to "recover our ambition and inspire a movement". |
| The other candidates still left in the leadership race are shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey - who has been tipped to get the backing of the Unite union later this week - and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry. | The other candidates still left in the leadership race are shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey - who has been tipped to get the backing of the Unite union later this week - and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry. |
| Ms Phillips missed the hustings organised by the GMB earlier on Tuesday, prompting speculation that her campaign was in trouble. | Ms Phillips missed the hustings organised by the GMB earlier on Tuesday, prompting speculation that her campaign was in trouble. |
| She had yet to receive any nominations from trade unions, affiliate bodies or local parties. | She had yet to receive any nominations from trade unions, affiliate bodies or local parties. |
| The BBC's political correspondent Iain Watson said Ms Phillips, who has long been an outspoken critic of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, could still have an influence on the contest if she decided to endorse another candidate. | The BBC's political correspondent Iain Watson said Ms Phillips, who has long been an outspoken critic of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, could still have an influence on the contest if she decided to endorse another candidate. |
| In a recent interview with LBC, Ms Phillips said if she couldn't be leader, she would support one of the other female candidates in the race. | In a recent interview with LBC, Ms Phillips said if she couldn't be leader, she would support one of the other female candidates in the race. |
| Her now former rivals Ms Nandy and Ms Thornberry praised her contribution. | Her now former rivals Ms Nandy and Ms Thornberry praised her contribution. |
| Confirming her exit, the 38-year old Ms Phillips said Labour needed a leader "who can unite all parts of our movement, the union movement, members and elected representatives". | Confirming her exit, the 38-year old Ms Phillips said Labour needed a leader "who can unite all parts of our movement, the union movement, members and elected representatives". |
| "In order to win the country, we are going to have to find a candidate, in this race, who can do all of that, and then take that message out to the country. A message of hope and change, that things can be better." | "In order to win the country, we are going to have to find a candidate, in this race, who can do all of that, and then take that message out to the country. A message of hope and change, that things can be better." |
| She thanked all those who had pledged their support for her, particularly Jewish members of the party who she said she would continue to stand up for. | She thanked all those who had pledged their support for her, particularly Jewish members of the party who she said she would continue to stand up for. |
| "I will always speak out and I promise that we will change the problems in our party that we have seen. I'm going to go out into the country and join the fight back." | "I will always speak out and I promise that we will change the problems in our party that we have seen. I'm going to go out into the country and join the fight back." |
| When she entered the contest earlier this month, Ms Phillips called on those who wanted to change Labour's direction to join the party in their thousands. | When she entered the contest earlier this month, Ms Phillips called on those who wanted to change Labour's direction to join the party in their thousands. |
| She insisted she had the "big personality" to alter how Labour was seen by the public, but she criticised her own performance in the first members' hustings last weekend in Liverpool. | She insisted she had the "big personality" to alter how Labour was seen by the public, but she criticised her own performance in the first members' hustings last weekend in Liverpool. |
| Labour MP Wes Streeting, one of Ms Phillips' supporters, said he was "gutted" by her withdrawal, but praised her "raw honesty" in accepting that she had not built the breadth of support required. | Labour MP Wes Streeting, one of Ms Phillips' supporters, said he was "gutted" by her withdrawal, but praised her "raw honesty" in accepting that she had not built the breadth of support required. |
| He suggested Sir Keir was the clear frontrunner, but there was a "Jess-shaped hole" in the contest waiting to be filled. | He suggested Sir Keir was the clear frontrunner, but there was a "Jess-shaped hole" in the contest waiting to be filled. |
| To make it to the final stage, the candidates have to secure nominations from 5% of constituency Labour parties (CLPs), or three affiliate groups - two of which must be trade unions - representing at least 5% of affiliated members. | To make it to the final stage, the candidates have to secure nominations from 5% of constituency Labour parties (CLPs), or three affiliate groups - two of which must be trade unions - representing at least 5% of affiliated members. |
| Sir Keir cleared this hurdle after being backed by Unison, the UK's largest union, and a second union, Usdaw, as well as environmental campaign group Sera. | Sir Keir cleared this hurdle after being backed by Unison, the UK's largest union, and a second union, Usdaw, as well as environmental campaign group Sera. |
| Ms Nandy is a step closer to joining him after the 60 members of the GMB's Central Executive Council decided to back her, saying they were impressed by her "ambition, optimism and decisive leadership". | Ms Nandy is a step closer to joining him after the 60 members of the GMB's Central Executive Council decided to back her, saying they were impressed by her "ambition, optimism and decisive leadership". |
| "Lisa won't shy away from the tough challenges or bold decisions that lie ahead, because she knows that after fifteen years of losing elections, more of the same won't cut it," Mr Roache said. "She will raise Labour's game with a bold agenda that puts people first and grounds politics in their lives." | "Lisa won't shy away from the tough challenges or bold decisions that lie ahead, because she knows that after fifteen years of losing elections, more of the same won't cut it," Mr Roache said. "She will raise Labour's game with a bold agenda that puts people first and grounds politics in their lives." |
| The union, which has more than 600,000 members across a range of industries, has also thrown its weight behind Angela Rayner for the deputy leadership. | The union, which has more than 600,000 members across a range of industries, has also thrown its weight behind Angela Rayner for the deputy leadership. |
| Mr Roache said she was "a role model and an inspiration" for "those people who believe that politics is not for the likes of them or have been told their whole lives not to get ideas above their station". | |
| Mr Corbyn's successor - and the successor to his deputy, Tom Watson - will be announced on 4 April. |