Lucy Powell emerged victorious in the deputy leadership election for the Labour Party, advocating for a change in direction. She secured 87,407 votes from party members and affiliates, surpassing her competitor Bridget Phillipson who received 73,536 votes. Notably, out of 970,642 eligible voters, only 160,993 votes were cast, signifying a turnout of 16.6%.
The low voter turnout indicates a lack of enthusiasm among party supporters for the current party trajectory, posing a challenge for Powell to energize activists. Having been removed from Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet in September, Powell expressed her intention to decline a return to a government role to freely voice her opinions on the party’s direction in power.
Critiquing Labour’s approach towards Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, Powell emphasized the party’s need to avoid mirroring Reform’s strategies to secure victories. Following her win, Powell emphasized the importance of reclaiming the political narrative and driving the agenda more assertively.
Responding to Powell’s victory, the Prime Minister extended his congratulations, describing her as an “incredible” Deputy Leader. He highlighted the ongoing collaboration between his Labour Government and Powell to enact the changes desired by the British public.
Powell, who first became the MP for Manchester Central in 2012, marks the fourth time a woman has been elected to the Deputy Leader position in the Labour Party, following Margaret Beckett, Harriet Harman, and Angela Rayner.
In a separate development, Rayner resigned from her roles as Housing Secretary, Deputy PM, and Labour’s deputy leader due to a stamp duty payment discrepancy on her property in Hove. Despite the change in title, Rayner affirmed her unwavering commitment to advocating for change and upholding her socialist values in Parliament.