Dame Emily Thornberry has dropped out of the race to replace Angela Rayner as Labour Party deputy leader.
It comes after she secured just 13 backers among Labour MPs on Wednesday night, well shy of the 80 needed to get through to the next round of the contest.
Only Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson passed that watermark, with 116, although former House of Commons leader Lucy Powell was only three short at 77.
Dame Emily, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Paula Baker, the other three candidates, had just 42 supporters between them.
The chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee said she was “deeply grateful to all the Labour members who have shared their support” as she announced her withdrawal from the competition.
“It has been a privilege to take part in this race with such brilliant women,” Dame Emily said.
“I will always be committed to this party and do everything I can to make it successful.”
The senior Labour MP is the second candidate to drop out of the race after housing minister Alison McGovern pulled out on Wednesday.
Politics Hub: Follow the latest from Westminster
Ms Barker, the MP for Liverpool Wavertree, told Sky News she was “genuinely undecided” on her future in the contest and had a lot to consider.
Ms Barker, a former trade union official, has challenged the government on Gaza and welfare cuts and is part of the newly formed soft-left “Mainstream group”.
Lucy Powell speaking during Labour Party Conference last year. Pic: PA
Her allies are keen for her to stay in the race, with one telling Sky News she “outshone the others by miles” during an online hustings event for MPs, and would be a “real alternative for the membership”.
Her supporters are expected to throw their weight behind Ms Powell if she does drop out,…
