SIR KEIR STARMER has received enough nominations from Labour MPs to enter the second phase of the Labour leadership contest.

The shadow Brexit secretary has 23 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.

MPs backing Mr Starmer include two newly announced members of Labour’s shadow cabinet — shadow culture secretary Tracy Brabin and shadow Brexit minister Thangam Debbonaire.

Public-sector union Unison also endorsed Mr Starmer today and threw its support behind shadow education secretary Angela Rayner for deputy leader.

On this occasion the endorsement was not decided by a consultation of the membership, but by the Labour Link group who gave 14 votes to Mr Starmer, five to Rebecca Long Bailey and one to Emily Thornberry.

During the 2016 leadership election a consultation of the membership led Unison to give its backing to Mr Corbyn rather than Owen Smith.

Mr Starmer is the only candidate so far to have secured his position on the ballot paper after receiving nominations from at least 10 per cent of Labour MPs and MEPs.

There are 212 MPs and MEPs — making the required threshold 22.

His rival shadow business secretary Ms Long Bailey had seven nominations when the Star went to print yesterday.

Her supporters include deputy leader hopefuls Ms Rayner and Richard Burgon.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott endorsed Ms Long Bailey for leader and shadow justice secretary Mr Burgon for deputy.

Also running for leader, Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips had six nominations, including from fellow Corbyn critic Wes Streeting, while Wigan MP Lisa Nandy had two.

Shadow foreign secretary and Islington South MP Emily Thornberry had just one nomination so far, and Norwich South MP Clive Lewis had none. Nominations close on Monday.

The race for the deputy post was triggered by Tom Watson’s decision to quit politics before the December general election.

Shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler had three nominations while Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan had two. The remaining candidate, Birmingham Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood, had yet to receive any.

Mr Corbyn said he would not endorse any of the candidates and “won’t be saying” who he will vote for.

The ballot opens to Labour members, affiliates and supporters on February 21 before the results are announced on April 4.