🔗 Share this article

Lucy Powell has secured the win in the Labour deputy leadership election, overcoming her challenger Bridget Phillipson.

Election Results and Figures

Powell, previously the Commons leader until her removal in a early autumn reorganization, was widely considered the frontrunner across the contest. She obtained 87,407 votes, making up 54% of the total ballots, while Phillipson earned 73,536. Eligible voter turnout stood at 16.6%.

The outcome was announced on Saturday after balloting that many interpreted as a referendum for party supporters on Labour's path under its current leadership. Phillipson, the minister for education, was considered the top pick of Downing Street.

Shared Policy Stances

Both contenders called for the scrapping of the benefit limit for two children, a policy that provoked a revolt among MPs shortly after Labour took power and is largely disliked among members.

Powell's Victory Address

During her winning remarks spoken in front of the party leader and the home secretary, Powell suggested errors from the government and remarked that Labour had lacked strength against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

She stated, “Victory won't come by attempting to outdo Reform.”

She exhorted the leadership to pay attention to the grassroots and parliamentarians, many of whom have lost party support since the party gained power for defying the party on issues such as social security costs and the two-child benefit cap.

“Party members and representatives are not a flaw, they’re our greatest strength, implementing reforms on the ground,” Powell noted. “Solidarity and allegiance arise from collective purpose, not from authoritarian rule. Arguing, attending and comprehending is not disloyalty. It’s our strength.”

She added: “We have to offer optimism, to bring about the significant shift the country is yearning for. We must convey a more definite feeling of our objective, who we represent, and of our ideals and tenets. That’s the message I received distinctly and unmistakably throughout the land over the past few weeks.”

She also mentioned: “Although we're doing much good … the public believes that this government is lacking courage in executing the sort of reform we vowed. I will advocate for our party ideals and daring in everything we do.

“It begins with us seizing again the public discourse and establishing the focus more forcefully. Because to be frank, we’ve let Farage and his allies to dominate it.”

She observed: “Division and hate are increasing, unrest and disappointment commonplace, the desire for change eager and tangible. The public is looking to other sources for solutions, and we as the Labour party, as the party of government, need to come forth and address this.

“We have this major moment to prove that progressive, mainstream politics can indeed change people’s lives for the better.”

Reaction from Leader and Party Difficulties

The party leader greeted Powell’s success, and recognized the difficulties faced by Labour, a day after the party was defeated in the Welsh parliament to a rival party.

He mentioned 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 create a more “culturally coherent group of people”.

The leader said it indicated that the Conservatives and Reform sought to bring Britain to a “very dark place”.

“Our job, regardless of position in this party, is to unite every single person in this country who is opposed to that approach, and to beat it, once and for all.

“This week we had another indication of just how pressing that mission is. A poor result in Wales. I admit that, but it is a reminder that people need to look out their window and see change and renewal in their neighborhood, chances for the next generation, restored public services, the addressed living costs.”

Contest Background and Participation

The result was more narrow than predicted; a recent poll had indicated Powell would get 58% of ballots cast. The participation rate of 16.6% was markedly lower than the previous deputy leadership election in 2020, which saw 58.8%.

Members and union affiliates made up the 970,642 people eligible to vote.

The contest grew more fractious over the recent weeks. Recently, Powell was labeled “the Momentum candidate” and Phillipson made remarks saying her competitor would lose the election for Labour.

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

Addressing in parliament this week – the first time 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 seen as being tightly connected with the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who was alleged to have initiating a campaign for leader in all but name before the party’s previous assembly.

During the campaign, Powell frequently mentioned “mistakes” made by the party on issues such as the winter fuel allowance.