Jess Phillips has called for a candidate that can unite the whole Labour movement as she withdrew from the leadership race.
The MP for Birmingham Yardley said she had to “be honest” with herself and “that person is not me” in an emotive video posted on social media.
Phillips had yet to receive any nominations from trade unions, affiliate bodies or local parties, which are needed for candidates to get on the final ballot.
She was missing from a hustings event organised by the GMB trade union today, fuelling speculation that she would be standing down.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer is the frontrunner in the Labour contest, having already secured his place on the final ballot paper as a result of nominations from the unions Unison and Usdaw and the Socialist Environment and Resources Association (Sera), an affiliate group.
Sir Keir, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and former shadow cabinet minister Lisa Nandy were all at the GMB hustings in London.
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