Lucy Powell, the newly elected deputy leader of the Labour Party, has issued a warning to the Prime Minister. She cautioned against shifting the party to the right to counter Nigel Farage’s influence, stating, “we can’t ‘out-Reform’ Reform.”
Her victory came after a tight contest against Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, a close ally of the Prime Minister. Consequently, Labour Momentum co-chair Alex Charilaou said Powell’s win “proves Labour members are unhappy with the current direction of this government.”
Moreover, following Labour’s heavy defeat in the Caerphilly by-election this week, Charilaou added that the party must urgently rethink its approach.
Powell secured 54 percent of the vote among Labour members and affiliates on a 16.6 percent turnout. Therefore, she called on Sir Keir Starmer to be bolder and show “whose side we are on.”
The new deputy leader, who was removed from the Cabinet in last month’s reshuffle, emphasized that the government must demonstrate a “stronger sense of our purpose.”
She stated, “We have to offer hope and deliver the big change the country is crying out for.” Furthermore, Powell stressed that Labour must communicate its values clearly and act decisively.
Powell also criticized the government for not being bold enough to deliver the promised reforms. Her election allows her to speak freely from the backbenches, unlike Phillipson, who remains bound by collective Cabinet responsibility.
In addition, the Fire Brigades Union endorsed Powell, saying her election would send a clear signal that the party’s leadership must change direction. On the other hand, Unite did not back any candidate, claiming that neither reflected the change the party requires.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the public’s sense of despair regarding the country’s governance. He added that Labour must demonstrate it can deliver tangible results in office.
Reflecting on Labour’s loss in the historic Caerphilly by-election, which the party had held for over a century, Streeting admitted the government had not presented a “compelling enough story” about its achievements. Therefore, he noted that voters had not yet experienced the change promised in the general election.
Overall, Powell’s election and her vocal stance signal increasing pressure on the Labour leadership. As a result, the party may need a clearer, bolder direction ahead of future political battles.
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