LABOUR’S left rallied to back Bell Ribeiro-Addy for the party’s deputy leadership as Sir Keir Starmer raced to stich up the process.

South London MP Ms Ribeiro-Addy, a consistent voice on the left, warned that Labour must cease “presenting itself as a pale imitation of Reform.”

Laying out her own priorities, Ms Ribeiro-Addy said: “Instead of blindly following Treasury orthodoxy, we need to tackle poverty and inequality through wealth taxes and scrapping the two-child benefit cap.

“We can show leadership on the world stage — opposing the genocide in Gaza, ending arms sales, and introducing sanctions against Israel.

“The absurd and authoritarian proscription of Palestine Action must end immediately.

“Internally, the Labour Party needs to return to its best traditions of open debate and tolerance of dissent, starting with restoring the whip to the seven Labour MPs punished for voting with their consciences.”

Left MPs rallied to her support as she began the uphill climb to secure the 80 nominations from within the Parliamentary Labour Party required to go forward to the wider party membership.

John McDonnell said: “If elected Bell will be the voice of members and will help our party reconnect with our supporters.”

Diane Abbott added her support, saying Ms Ribeiro-Addy would help Labour reconnect with alienated members, while Socialist Campaign Group secretary Richard Burgon said: “Bell voted for a ceasefire in Gaza in that historic vote, against the cuts to disability support and opposed the attack on civil liberties with the ban on Palestine Action.

“Bell would ensure Labour members’ voices are heard at the top of our party — and not sidelined by yet more stitch-ups,” he added.

Rebecca Long-Bailey also backed Ms Ribeiro-Addy at the Morning Star’s fringe at the TUC Congress in Brighton today.

Momentum pledged support, commenting that “having a principled socialist like Bell in the contest would enable the open debate we need about Labour’s future.”

Five other candidates have declared they are seeking nomination in the rushed contest. Downing Street will be backing Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, firmly on the right of the party.

Ms Phillipson said: “I am a proud working-class woman from the north-east. I have come from a single-parent family on a tough council street, all the way to the Cabinet, determined to deliver better life chances for young people growing up in our country.”

Lucy Powell, sacked as Commons leader in last week’s reshuffle, threw her hat in the ring, claiming “we must use all our talents and experience to ensure our Labour government, led by our Prime Minister, is successful in delivering our mandate of change.”

And Islington South MP Emily Thornberry, visibly and volubly disappointed not to have been included in Starmer’s Cabinet, also joined the contest, saying: “We've made mistakes and must listen. Welfare. Gaza. Wealth tax. Changes to come on SEND.

“I will be a voice for the membership, unions, PLP, and our constituents — not just nod along.”

Two further MPs from Merseyside declared late today, local government minister Alison McGovern and leftwinger Paula Barker, bringing the field to a crowded six.

Labour is rushing to get the contest out of the way before the Budget in November, with MPs and the rest of the party being given only minimal opportunities to scrutinise the candidates.

Ms Phillipson is likely to secure most nominations within the loyalist PLP but is not necessarily going to prove a members’ favourite.