Lucy Powell urges Labour not to ‘write off’ May local elections viewing them as certain defeats

Labour should not “write off” next May’s elections anticipating heavy defeats, instead leveraging the upcoming fiscal plan to recapture voters’ attention, Lucy Powell has said amid the contest to be the party’s deputy leadership reached its concluding phase.

As member voting commences, her rival, contesting the same role, said upon victory she would set up a formal system to convey grassroots and union opinions directly to government leaders on a regular basis.

Removed from her cabinet post during the recent ministerial shake-up after the departure of Angela Rayner emerging as the frontrunner positioning as an independent voice, vowing to deliver hard truths to Keir Starmer and his team as needed.

Speaking after a series of events with members, Powell expressed apprehension exists about the possible impact for Labour of the elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments and councils across England next May, where significant setbacks are forecast, many to Reform UK.

Powell, who was leader of the Commons until the reshuffle, declared she is “not prepared to write off these crucial electoral contests” as typical midterm backlash, calling for a bold budget in response.

“It’s not OK if we are losing good Labour councillors and councils through no fault of their own, because of the missteps we’ve taken nationally,” she said. “We need to reset the agenda preventing communities from awakening to Reform-controlled councils after election day in May.”

November’s budget should be “a moment to draw a line under our past mistakes, and show the country where our allegiance lies”, Powell said, proposing it removes the two-child limit on benefits ensuring fairer distribution of tax responsibilities.

Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Phillipson, the education secretary, indicated she believed the cap would be lifted.

“I am confident that we as a government will do the right thing for children in poverty in our country,” she affirmed. “We’ve already started that process. Further action is needed. I will ensure its completion.”

Phillipson argued in her capacity as minister she could make sure members’ concerns were heard directly within senior government circles. Through an additional commitment, her team said she would regularly gather input from members and trade unions quarterly to present in this way.

She declared: “Labour’s vitality stems from its membership. Thus I aim to provide them a stronger voice in governmental policy implementation, with more avenues for our movement to tell us about their priorities.

“Only under my deputy leadership will member voices resonate loud and clear at the cabinet table.”

Online member voting commenced recently and will run until 23 October, results following two days after.