🔗 Share this article

Lucy Powell has triumphed in the contest for Labour's deputy leader, defeating her opponent Bridget Phillipson.

Ballot Details and Winner

Formerly the Commons leader before being replaced in a recent reshuffle, was widely considered the favorite during the campaign. She obtained 87,407 votes, accounting for 54% of the submitted ballots, while Phillipson got 73,536. Voter participation was recorded at 16.6%.

The decision was announced on Saturday morning that many saw as a indicator for party adherents on Labour's direction under its current leadership. Phillipson, the education secretary, was perceived as the top pick of Downing Street.

Shared Policy Stances

The two rivals advocated for the elimination of the two-child benefit cap, a policy that provoked a revolt among MPs shortly after Labour assumed office and is deeply unpopular among supporters.

Powell's Victory Address

In her victory speech given before the party leader and the home secretary, Powell suggested government shortcomings and stated that Labour had not been assertive enough against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

She declared, “Victory won't come by trying to out-Reform Reform.”

She encouraged the leadership to pay attention to members and MPs, several of whom have been disciplined since the party took control for defying the party on issues such as social security costs and the two-child benefit cap.

“Our members and elected representatives are not our liability, they’re our primary resource, delivering change on the ground,” Powell noted. “Solidarity and allegiance stem from shared goals, not from authoritarian rule. Debating, listening and hearing is not rebellion. It’s our forte.”

She stated further: “We need to give hope, to provide the big transformation the country is yearning for. We should communicate a more definite feeling of our mission, who we represent, and of our Labour values and beliefs. That’s the message I received loudly and clearly throughout the land over the past few weeks.”

She further noted: “While we’re accomplishing many positive things … people feel that this government is not being bold enough in delivering the kind of change we pledged. I'll be a champion for our core principles and daring in all our actions.

“It begins with us seizing again the political narrative and setting the agenda more forcefully. Because to be frank, we’ve allowed Farage and his allies to dominate it.”

She stated: “Discord and animosity are increasing, dissatisfaction and disenchantment commonplace, the yearning for transformation impatient and palpable. The public is looking to other sources for answers, and we as the Labour party, as the governing force, must step forward and tackle this.

“We have this one big chance to demonstrate that progressive, mainstream politics truly can improve living conditions for the better.”

Leader's Remarks and Labour's Struggles

The party leader applauded Powell’s success, and admitted the hurdles experienced by Labour, a day after the party was defeated in the Welsh parliament to a rival party.

He referred to a pledge made by a Conservative MP who last weekend claimed she believed “a large number of people” living legally in the UK should have their right to stay withdrawn and “go home” to establish a more “culturally coherent group of people”.

The leader remarked it showed that the Conservatives and Reform wanted to take Britain to a “very dark place”.

“Our job, whoever we are in this party, is to rally every single person in this country who is opposed to that approach, and to defeat it, permanently.

“This week we had another indication of just how pressing that task is. A poor result in Wales. I admit that, but it is a warning that people need to look out their window and observe improvement and regeneration in their locality, prospects for the young, public services rebuilt, the resolved financial pressures.”

Contest Background and Participation

The result was closer than expected; a recent opinion survey had suggested Powell would receive 58% of ballots cast. The participation rate of 16.6% was considerably reduced than the previous deputy leadership election in 2020, which had 58.8%.

Members and union affiliates comprised the 970,642 people able to cast ballots.

The campaign grew more fractious over the last six weeks. Recently, Powell was described as “the Momentum candidate” and Phillipson spoke to the press saying her opponent would harm the party's electoral chances.

The vote was initiated after the ex-deputy resigned last month when she was determined to have shortchanged stamp duty on a property purchase.

Remarks in parliament this week – the initial occasion she had done so since leaving her post following a report by the prime minister’s ethics adviser – the former deputy leader told MPs she would pay “any taxes owed”.

In contrast to her predecessor, Powell will not assume the role of deputy prime minister, with the role having already been given to another senior figure.

Powell is viewed as being closely linked with the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who was alleged to have starting a run for the top job in all but name before the party’s recent conference.

Throughout the race, Powell often referenced “mistakes” made by the party on issues such as the winter fuel allowance.