Shabana Mahmood rules herself out of Labour deputy leadership race

Minister doesn't rule out rumoured leadership bid

With the timeline for the deputy leadership contest finally confirmed, expect more people to formally throw their hat into the ring in the race to replace Angela Rayner.

One name that has already been mentioned is Alison McGovern, who until Friday's reshuffle had been a work and pensions minister but is now a housing minister.

She has just been speaking at a fringe event where she was asked whether she plans to run for deputy leader now the timetable has been agreed.

She tells the audience to "hold their horses" on that question, and says it is "all a bit soon for that sort of thing".

Well, McGovern actually only has until 11 September to decide if she wants to run, as that is when nominations will close. 

Such a speedy timeline has prompted accusations from leftwing MPs that the leadership is attempting to "stitch up" the contest for party favourites who are more likely to win the support of 80 MPs in such a short space of time.

McGovern also addresses some union concerns that the Employment Rights Bill will be watered down now that Rayner no longer sits around the Cabinet table.

She seeks to reassure the audience that the government remains "committed" to the legislation, which she describes as a "cornerstone" of Labour's manifesto.

"Working people haven't had a good time over 14 years," she says, adding that people have been working "too hard for their poverty".

Streeting rules out deputy leadership bid - but says winner might not be in government

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has ruled himself out of standing for the Labour deputy leadership.

This is not entirely surprising, as both a London MP and someone on the Blairite side of the party, Streeting would be unlikely to win the support of those in the part who want a leftish and non-capital candidate.

 The health secretary says he will consider the field ahead of casting his vote later this week. 

Interestingly, when asked if the deputy leader needs to be in government, Streeting says this is "less of a consideration" for him.

Instead he wants to see someone who is "energetic" and a "campaigner" - like Angela Rayner - who can help with next year's local elections.

This could pave the way for Number 10 to freeze out someone from their inner circle if the deputy leader turns out to not be on board with the government agenda.

'Left' candidate needed for Labour deputy, says MP - as he accuses leadership of 'stitch up'

Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig is at the Trades Union Congress in Brighton, where he has been speaking to Labour MP Richard Burgon.

He asks the Leeds East MP if he would consider standing for deputy Labour leader, considering he has done so before.

Burgon says: "What I think needs to happen is there needs to be a left candidate for deputy leader of the Labour Party.

"And by that I mean someone who voted for a ceasefire and someone who voted against disability benefit cuts because the deputy leader is meant to be the voice of members at the top table.

"Members, quite rightly, had a strong position on a ceasefire in relation to Gaza, strong opinion on Palestine, and a strong position against the disability benefit cuts. 

"As to who that left candidate should be, colleagues will discuss that."

Burgon goes on to claim that Labour Party leadership is "trying to create the mother of all stitch ups".

"They don't want a left candidate that they're rushing through this process," he claims.

"So MPs only have a couple of days for the nomination process. 

"In my view, the nomination process for MPs should last at least until the end of the party conference to give time for party members to meet with the potential candidates, have a hustings conference of the potential candidates before the nomination process closes."

Labour deputy leader to be elected 25 October

We've just had the timeline confirmed for when Angela Rayner's successor will be confirmed by the Labour Party.

A new party deputy leader will be in place on 25 October, the party said.

Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) nominations will close on 11 September, with candidate hustings taking place a day earlier on 10 September.

Constituency Labour Party (CLP) nominations will open on 13 September, and close on 27 September.

Here's how the contest will play out from there:

8 October is the date the ballot opens for the candidates;

• Ballots close at 12pm on 23 October
• Final result is declared on 25 October

No 10 calls for RMT to get back to negotiating table to end Tube strikes

Downing Street has called on the RMT union and Transport for London to get back to the negotiating table to end the Tube strike.

Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman said: "I think Londoners will rightly be fed-up with the disruption from Tube strikes this morning – as parents try and drop their kids off at school, get to hospital appointments, get to work – and RMT and TfL need to get back around the table, work together to resolve this dispute in the interests of passengers."

The Employment Rights Bill could reduce barriers to strike action but No 10 insisted this was because it wanted a more constructive relation with unions rather than the "scorched earth" approach under the Tories.

"We've always said in introducing our reforms that we want to, unlike the previous government, have a more constructive relationship with the unions and also a more secure workforce is good for the economy, it's good for productivity," the spokesperson said.

"But we want to see RMT and TfL get back around the table when it comes to these strikes, work together in good faith to resolve this situation in the interests of passengers."

How to get on the ballot for deputy Labour leader

The Labour Party rule book sets out how candidates can get on the ballot to stand in the election for deputy party leader.

Each nominee must be a sitting member of the Parliamentary Labour Party (a Labour MP), and must be supported by 20 per cent of their fellow members, which currently equates to 80 Labour MPs.

In addition, they must win the support of either:

Five per cent of Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs), which are local party groups;

• At least three organisations affiliated to the party - at least two of which must be trade unions - that comprise five per cent of the affiliated party membership.
• Once those conditions have been met, candidates must then send written acceptance of their nomination for deputy leader to the party’s general secretary before the specified deadline.

We expect to hear more from Labour's governing body - the National Executive Committee - about the timeline and process for the election of a new deputy leader later today.

UK could suspend visas for countries that don't do return deals, home secretary suggests

Shabana Mahmood, the new home secretary, has suggested that the UK will suspend visas for countries that don't agree to return deals.

The minister is today meeting with counterparts from the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand in London - known as the Five Eyes Alliance.

Asked about the possibility of visa cuts, Mahmood said: "For countries that do not play ball, we've been talking about how we can take much more coordinated action between the Five Eyes countries.

"For us, that means including possibly, the cutting of visas in the future. Just to say, you know, we do expect countries to play ball, play by the rules.

"And if one of your citizens has no right to be in our country, you do need to take them back."

Mahmood added that this is something Labour has been looking at "for some time".

"I'm very clear that there has to be a strong approach to maintaining our border," she says.

"And that does mean saying to countries who do not take their citizens back that we're not simply going to allow our laws to remain unenforced.

"That they do have to play ball, they have to come to the table.

"Cutting visas is one of the ways to do that."

-SKY NEWS