Lucy Powell has called on Labour not to “write off” next May’s local elections, saying the Labour deputy race should focus on rebuilding voter trust and energizing the party’s base. She urged leaders to use the upcoming budget to reconnect with struggling families and show clear national direction.
Moreover, Powell, a frontrunner in the Labour deputy race, said the next few months offer chances to prove Labour is listening. After her recent removal from cabinet, she has positioned herself as a strong voice for members demanding accountability from leadership.
Furthermore, speaking to members, Powell said Labour must not accept predicted losses in Scotland, Wales, and English councils. She warned that failing to act decisively could allow Reform UK to gain ground. Powell added that communities needed to see real change, not excuses for weak midterm results.
Therefore, she argued that the 26 November budget should become a moment of renewal for the government. Powell called for lifting the two-child benefit cap and ensuring that the tax burden falls more fairly on wealthier households. These measures, she said, could prove that Labour stands firmly on the side of working families.
Meanwhile, her rival in the Labour deputy race, Bridget Phillipson, outlined her plan to strengthen connections between the party’s grassroots and the government. Speaking on national television, Phillipson said she was confident the government would do more to fight child poverty.
Phillipson, who serves as Education Secretary, said that as deputy leader she would give members a stronger voice in policymaking. She pledged to gather input from members and unions every three months and present their views directly to the cabinet.
“The Labour party’s strength lies in its members,” Phillipson said during a campaign stop. “Their voices must shape the government’s priorities.”
Electronic voting for the deputy leadership began last Wednesday and will continue until 23 October. The result will be announced on 25 October, closing a race that could reshape the party’s internal balance and its strategy heading into the crucial local elections next May.
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