"Lucy Powell has been elected as Labour's new deputy leader after a race triggered by Angela Rayner's resignation last month. The Manchester Central MP defeated Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson by promising to give grassroots members a louder voice and push for a "course correction" in government. She was sacked from the cabinet in September and drew support from members who are dissatisfied with the direction of the government under Sir Keir Starmer's leadership."
"Powell took 87,407 votes, nearly 14,000 votes ahead of Phillipson, on a turnout of 16.6%. During her victory speech she said the party needed to be "bolder" and promised to be a "champion for our Labour values". She said she would "help Keir and our government to succeed" but said the party "must change how we are doing things to turn things around". Powell said she would use her role to "bring voices" who believe the government is not being bold enough "to the heart of our party"."
"Powell also singled out Reform UK, saying it "starts with us wrestling back the political megaphone and setting the agenda more strongly, because let's be honest we've let [Nigel] Farage and his ilk run away with it". She said the party could not win support by "trying to 'out-Reform' Reform"."
Lucy Powell won Labour's deputy leadership with 87,407 votes, nearly 14,000 ahead of Bridget Phillipson, on a 16.6% turnout. Powell pledged to give grassroots members a louder voice, push for a "course correction" in government and act as a champion for Labour values. She said she would help Keir Starmer's government succeed while insisting the party must change how it operates to reverse poor results. Powell committed to bringing voices who want bolder action to the heart of the party and warned against trying to "out-Reform" Reform UK. Her victory follows a week of government controversies and a Senedd by-election loss in Caerphilly.
Read at www.bbc.com
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