One of the five candidates running to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Britain's main opposition Labour leader dropped out of the race on Tuesday.
Jess Phillips, an outspoken MP with a significant media profile, had pitched herself as a big personality who could stand up to Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
She has also been a strong critic of veteran socialist Corbyn, who led Labour to its worst defeat in decades in last month's general election.
But in a video statement to supporters on Tuesday, she acknowledged she would not be able to bring the party together.
"The Labour party will need to select a candidate that can unite all parts of our movement -- the (trade) union movement, the members and elected representatives," she said.
"I have to be honest that at this time, that person isn't me. In order to win the country, we are going to have to find a candidate in this race who can do that and take that message out to the country of hope and change for things to be better."