🔗 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

Formerly the Commons leader before being replaced in a recent reshuffle, was frequently seen as the leading candidate during the race. She secured 87,407 votes, making up 54% of the cast ballots, whereas Phillipson got 73,536. Eligible voter turnout was recorded at 16.6%.

The result was declared on Saturday morning that many regarded as a measure for party members on Labour's trajectory under its current leadership. Phillipson, the education secretary, was considered the favored candidate of the administration.

Common Policy Positions

Both contenders pushed for the abolition of the benefit limit for two children, a policy that caused a revolt among MPs shortly after Labour assumed office and is largely disliked among supporters.

Powell's Victory Address

Throughout her acceptance address spoken in front of the party leader and the home secretary, Powell alluded to errors from the government and stated that Labour had not been assertive enough against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

She asserted, “We cannot succeed by competing with Reform.”

She urged the leadership to pay attention to members and MPs, a number of whom have lost party support since the party entered government for voting against on issues such as social security costs and the two-child benefit cap.

“Party members and representatives are not our liability, they’re our key asset, effecting transformation on the ground,” Powell remarked. “Unity and loyalty arise from collective purpose, not from top-down directives. Debating, listening and hearing is not disloyalty. It’s our strength.”

She continued: “We must provide hope, to bring about the significant shift the country is yearning for. We should communicate a stronger impression of our purpose, where our loyalties lie, and of our ideals and tenets. That’s the message I received distinctly and unmistakably around the country in recent weeks.”

She further noted: “While we’re accomplishing many positive things … the public believes that this government is failing to be daring in executing the kind of change we pledged. I'll be a champion for our Labour values and boldness in each endeavor.

“It starts with us wrestling back the public discourse and establishing the focus more forcefully. Because to be frank, we’ve let Farage and his followers to run away with it.”

She stated: “Division and hate are growing, unrest and disappointment commonplace, the yearning for transformation urgent and evident. The public is looking elsewhere for answers, and we as the Labour party, as the governing force, need to come forth and address this.

“We have this major moment to demonstrate that progressive, mainstream politics can indeed improve living conditions for the better.”

Leader's Remarks and Labour's Struggles

The party leader applauded Powell’s triumph, and admitted the difficulties confronting Labour, a day after the party suffered a defeat in the Welsh parliament to a rival party.

He mentioned a pledge made by a Conservative MP who stated recently she believed “a large number of people” living legally in the UK should have their right to stay cancelled and “go home” to produce 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 responsibility, regardless of position in this party, is to rally every single person in this country who is opposed to that politics, and to beat it, once and for all.

“This week we had another signal of just how crucial that task is. A bad outcome in Wales. I accept that, but it is a cue that people need to see around them and see change and renewal in their locality, prospects for the young, public services rebuilt, the cost-of-living crisis tackled.”

Election Context and Turnout

The conclusion was more narrow than predicted; a recent opinion survey had forecast Powell would get 58% of ballots cast. The turnout of 16.6% was considerably reduced than the last deputy leadership election in 2020, which saw 58.8%.

Party members and union associates 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 gave an interview saying her opponent would cost the party the election.

The ballot was triggered after the ex-deputy resigned last month when she was determined to have underpaid stamp duty on a property purchase.

Speaking in parliament this week – the maiden speech 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”.

Differing from her predecessor, Powell will not be appointed deputy prime minister, with the role having earlier bestowed to another senior figure.

Powell is regarded as being tightly connected with the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who was accused of starting a run for the top job in all but name before the party’s last gathering.

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