🔗 Share this article

Lucy Powell has come out on top in the contest for Labour's deputy leader, defeating her opponent Bridget Phillipson.

Vote Breakdown and Outcome

Powell, previously the Commons leader until her removal in a September reshuffle, was frequently seen as the leading candidate across the race. She secured 87,407 votes, accounting for 54% of the submitted ballots, while Phillipson received 73,536. Turnout was recorded at 16.6%.

The outcome was revealed on Saturday morning that many regarded as a indicator for party members on Labour's direction under its current leadership. Phillipson, the minister for education, was considered the top pick of the administration.

Shared Policy Stances

The two rivals pushed for the elimination of the cap on benefits for third children, a policy that sparked a revolt among MPs weeks after Labour came into government and is largely disliked among the party base.

Triumphant Remarks from Powell

Throughout her winning remarks spoken in front of the party leader and the home secretary, Powell hinted at government shortcomings and stated that Labour had lacked strength against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

She stated, “We cannot succeed by trying to out-Reform Reform.”

She encouraged the leadership to listen to members and MPs, a number of whom have had the whip withdrawn since the party gained power for voting against on issues such as benefit outlays and the two-child benefit cap.

“Party members and representatives are not a flaw, they’re our key asset, delivering change on the ground,” Powell said. “Unity and loyalty stem from shared goals, not from authoritarian rule. Arguing, attending and comprehending is not rebellion. It’s our strength.”

She added: “We need to give hope, to bring about the significant shift the country is calling for. We need to express a clearer sense of our mission, whose side we’re on, and of our ideals and tenets. That’s what I’ve heard distinctly and unmistakably throughout the land during the last several weeks.”

She further noted: “While we’re accomplishing many positive things … the public believes that this government is not being bold enough in delivering the sort of reform we pledged. I will advocate for our Labour values and daring in each endeavor.

“It commences with us reclaiming the public discourse and defining the priorities more strongly. Because let’s be honest, we’ve permitted Farage and his ilk to run away with it.”

She observed: “Rifts and hostility are growing, unrest and disappointment widespread, the desire for change eager and tangible. People are searching in other places for responses, and we as the Labour party, as the ruling party, need to come forth and tackle this.

“We have this one big chance to show that forward-thinking, centrist policies really can change people’s lives for the better.”

Reaction from Leader and Party Difficulties

The party leader applauded Powell’s success, and recognized the difficulties faced by Labour, a day after the party lost a seat 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 said it demonstrated that the Conservatives and Reform wanted to take Britain to a “very dark place”.

“Our job, every one of us in this party, is to rally every single person in this country who is against that ideology, and to beat it, for good.

“This week we received another reminder of just how urgent that task is. A bad outcome in Wales. I acknowledge that, but it is a warning that people need to observe their surroundings and witness transformation and revitalization in their community, prospects for the young, public services rebuilt, the cost-of-living crisis tackled.”

Contest Background and Participation

The conclusion was more narrow than predicted; a recent poll had indicated Powell would receive 58% of ballots cast. The voter engagement of 16.6% was considerably reduced than the last deputy leadership election in 2020, which recorded 58.8%.

Party members and union associates constituted the 970,642 people able to cast ballots.

The campaign grew progressively hostile over the recent weeks. Recently, Powell was labeled “the Momentum candidate” and Phillipson made remarks saying her rival would harm the party's electoral chances.

The election was called after the former deputy resigned last month when she was found to have shortchanged stamp duty on a property purchase.

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

Unlike her predecessor, Powell will not assume the role of deputy prime minister, with the office having earlier bestowed to another senior figure.

Powell is regarded as being strongly associated with the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who was accused of initiating a campaign for leader in all but name before the party’s previous assembly.

Throughout the race, Powell frequently mentioned “errors” made by the party on issues such as the winter fuel allowance.