Lucy Powell Urges Labour to Be Bolder After Winning Deputy Leadership
Lucy Powell has officially been elected as the new Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, defeating Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson in what turned out to be a closely watched and symbolic race for the party’s direction. Powell secured 54% of the vote — around 87,000 ballots — against Phillipson’s 46%. While the result was expected, her victory speech made it clear that she believes Labour must show far greater ambition and boldness if it truly wants to deliver the change it promised.
Speaking to supporters in London, Powell said Labour “has to be bolder” and cannot afford to “let Nigel Farage and his ilk run away with it.” She emphasized that progressive politics must prove it can transform lives for the better, warning that the forces of “hate and disillusionment” are gaining ground. Powell’s tone was both determined and reflective, acknowledging Labour’s current challenges while promising to help the party “wrestle back the political megaphone.”
Also Read:The win comes after Angela Rayner’s resignation as deputy leader last month, leaving a significant gap in the party’s leadership. Powell, who previously served as Leader of the House of Commons before being dismissed in Keir Starmer’s September reshuffle, said she intends to unite Labour under a renewed sense of purpose. “Unity and loyalty come from collective purpose, not from command and control,” she told the crowd, urging the leadership to listen more to members and grassroots voices.
Her comments also carried an implicit message to Starmer — that Labour’s leadership needs to do more to connect with voters who feel left behind. She highlighted how people are growing restless, saying, “The desire for change is palpable. People are looking elsewhere for answers, and we, as the party of government, have to step forward and take this on.”
Powell’s victory, though decisive, was not overwhelming — a sign that while she enjoys strong support, many within the party remain cautious about shifting too far from Starmer’s centrist approach. Still, her call for a “fairer economy that works for the many, not the few” resonated with long-time Labour supporters eager for stronger, values-driven leadership.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated Powell, calling her a “proud defender of Labour values,” and said he looked forward to working closely with her. Meanwhile, reactions from other parties were mixed — Conservatives described Powell as “the candidate Starmer didn’t want,” while the Liberal Democrats urged Labour to show more urgency in delivering change.
For Powell, though, the message was clear: Labour must show it can deliver real progress, not just promises. “We’ve got one big chance,” she said, “to prove that progressive, mainstream politics can change lives for the better. And that work starts today.”
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