Two of the UK’s biggest unions have backed Bridget Phillipson to become the next deputy Labour leader.
GMB and Unison both said they were backing the education secretary after meetings with their leaders on Thursday.
They are throwing their support behind Ms Phillipson over the only other candidate, Lucy Powell, who recently lost her job as leader of the House of Commons during the cabinet reshuffle.
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Ms Phillipson had already been nominated by three other trade unions – Community, the National Union of Mineworkers and Usdaw – to replace Angela Rayner after she resigned from government over her tax affairs.
Ms Powell has not received the backing of any unions, so far.
Unison represents 1.3 million public services members while GMB has more than 560,000 members from across the workforce.
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Linda Hobson, chairwoman of Unison’s Labour Link committee, said Ms Phillipson will be a “strong, persuasive and passionate voice” to “help steer the change that people voted for”.
“She has a clear understanding of unions and will be a powerful voice for Unison members working across public services.”
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Gary Smith, GMB general secretary, said the union was “proud” Ms Phillipson has been a member for 20 years.
He said the GMB looks forward to Ms Phillipson “delivering on Labour’s promise” to reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, aimed at aiding support staff.
On GMB’s support, Ms Phillipson said: “It is humbling to receive the nomination of my own trade union, GMB, for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party.
“The GMB is a powerful voice for working people and their values in every corner of our country and I am deeply proud to be their choice for deputy leader of our party.
“My campaign is getting support from every part of our movement. I will be a deputy leader for every part of our country at cabinet, uniting the party, telling Labour’s story, and bringing the change the British people want to see.”
The unions’ support of Ms Phillipson came the day after she said she has been the victim of “sexist briefings” – notably rumours, later proved false, she would be sacked from her cabinet role during the recent reshuffle.
“I’ve been underestimated most of my life,” she told the BBC and said she found it amusing she is being touted as Number 10’s preferred candidate after that.
