Lucy Powell has been elected deputy leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party, securing a narrow victory over Education Minister Bridget Phillipson in a members’ vote announced Saturday. Powell won with 54% of the vote on a low turnout of 17%, marking a political rebound just weeks after being dismissed from government by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
In her victory speech, Powell called for a strategic shift within the party, urging leadership to abandon efforts to appeal to voters drawn to right-wing immigration platforms and instead focus on Labour’s traditional mission of reducing inequality.
“We won’t win by trying to out-Reform Reform, but by building a broad progressive consensus,” she said, referencing the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which recently pushed Labour into third place in a Welsh parliamentary contest.
Powell’s election follows the resignation of former deputy leader Angela Rayner in September, who stepped down after breaching ministerial rules related to property tax. Powell, who previously oversaw the government’s legislative agenda, was removed from her ministerial post during the reshuffle that followed Rayner’s departure. She later suggested her dismissal may have stemmed from internal disagreements over unpopular welfare proposals.
On Saturday, Powell emphasized the need for cultural reform within Labour’s leadership, advocating for greater engagement with party members and elected officials. She criticized what she described as a “command and control” approach and pledged to serve as “a strong independent voice” during a challenging period for the party.
Unlike her predecessor, Powell will not assume the role of deputy prime minister. That position has been assigned to Justice Minister David Lammy.
Responding to Powell’s election, Prime Minister Starmer welcomed her as “a proud defender of Labour values,” and acknowledged the party’s recent loss in Wales as a signal to accelerate visible improvements for voters.
Powell’s victory injects new energy into Labour’s leadership team as it seeks to regain momentum amid declining public support and growing pressure from both nationalist and populist challengers.