A has said she would be prepared to argue for the UK to rejoin the European Union if she wins.
, a critic of Jeremy Corbyn, said she would “fight” for EU membership if it was in the country’s economic interests.
Her comments opened up a divide with , who said the general election had swept away the case for a second referendum.
Phillips, Starmer, Lisa Nandy, Clive Lewis and Emily Thornberry are the MPs who have declared their candidacies, with left-winger Rebecca Long Bailey-also expected to enter the race soon.
Although the Labour membership is overwhelmingly pro-Remain, senior party figures have accepted Boris Johnson’s victory last month means that Brexit will happen.
However Phillips, the MP for Birmingham Yardley, said she would not rule out campaigning to rejoin the EU after Brexit.
She said her own seat voted for Leave but she had campaigned for Remain: “I thought it was the best thing for the people that I represent and I thought it was the best thing for the country and I’m not going to just change my mind on that. But what we have to do is wait and see.”
Asked whether, as Labour leader, party policy could back returning to the EU, she said: “So if we are living in an absolute paradise of trade and we’re totally safe in the world and we’re not worrying about having to constantly look to America for our safety and security then maybe I’ll be proven wrong.
“But the reality is if our country is safer, if it is more economically viable to be in the European Union, then I will fight for that regardless of how difficult that argument is to make.”
Starmer, who as Labour’s shadow Brexit Secretary was in favour of another referendum, said his party had not been clear enough about the issue at the election:
“I think clarity about what your position is and not being able to say well would you be leave or remain after a general election was a problem and I made that argument but I accepted the decision.
“I think people wanted clarity and they wanted leadership.
“People had bought the idea that if you vote Tory you’ll get Brexit done and we didn’t knock it down hard enough.”
However, he said “we are leaving” and added: “This election blew away the argument for a second referendum. The argument has to move on.”
A YouGov poll last week found that Starmer would beat Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, in the final round of the contest, with Phillips in third place.
Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee will meet today to set the timetable for the contest, which is expected to formally start on Tuesday.
The new leader will be in place by the end of March.
