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The race began with six candidates but the field was quickly reduced to two, with Phillipson widely seen as the leadership's choice. It was triggered by Rayner's dramatic resignation after admitting to underpaying tax on a house purchase. While relations between Sir Keir and Rayner had been tense at times, she was a key figure in the government. She held the title deputy prime minister and was seen as a political bridge between the leadership and the party's traditional working class and union base. But last month's reshuffle left the deputy leadership as a purely party role after Sir Keir appointed David Lammy as deputy prime minister and placed key allies in other cabinet roles. Unlike the cabinet, the deputy leader of the Labour Party is elected by members, not appointed by the prime minister. Powell will sit on Labour's powerful National Executive Committee and act as the party's "campaigner-in-chief."
