Bridget Phillipson is set to go head-to-head with Lucy Powell

Bridget Phillipson is set to face Lucy Powell in the fight to become Labour deputy leader as the contest became a two horse race.

Phillipson, the education secretary, has so far received the support of 116 MPs – easily clearing the 80 nominations she needed to get through to the next stage.

Powell is just three short of the magic number on 77, and is expected to get the backing she needs in time for the deadline at 5pm tomorrow.

They are both well ahead of their nearest rival, left-winger Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who has 15 nominations, followed by Paula Barker on 14 and Emily Thornberry on 13.

No.10 had been hoping that a full-blown contest could be avoided amid fears that it will highlight........

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