Emily Thornberry has announced she is withdrawing from the Labour deputy leadership contest, leaving four candidates left in the race to replace Angela Rayner.

Announcing her decision on social media, Thornberry said she was “deeply grateful” to Labour members for their support and added that it had been “a privilege to take part in this race with such brilliant women”.

Thornberry, who chairs the Commons foreign affairs committee, had gathered 13 nominations from Labour MPs, far short of the 80 needed to progress to the next stage of the contest.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is the frontrunner so far, having secured backing from 116 of her parliamentary colleagues.