Lucy Powell calls on Labour not to dismiss upcoming May elections as certain defeats

Labour should not disregard next May’s elections anticipating heavy defeats, instead leveraging the upcoming fiscal plan as a way to seize back public focus, the former minister has said amid the contest for deputy leadership reached its concluding phase.

As member voting commences, her rival, contesting the same role, said if she won she would set up a formal system to convey grassroots and union opinions directly to government leaders at regular intervals.

Powell was sacked from the cabinet during the recent ministerial shake-up following Angela Rayner’s exit emerging as the frontrunner positioning as an independent voice, vowing to deliver hard truths to the party leadership as needed.

Following engagements with party members, Powell said there was concern about the possible impact on the party of the elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments alongside English local councils next May, where significant setbacks are forecast, many to Reform UK.

Powell, who was leader of the Commons until the reshuffle, said she was unwilling to dismiss this hugely important set of elections” as inevitable midterm pushback, calling for a bold budget as a countermeasure.

“It’s not OK if we are losing good Labour councillors and councils through external factors, because of the missteps we’ve taken nationally,” she said. “We need to reset the agenda preventing communities from awakening to Reform and other councils after election day in May.”

November’s budget should be “a moment to draw a line under our past mistakes, demonstrating to the nation whose side we are on”, Powell said, saying it should lift the two-child benefit cap and make sure the tax burden was shared more fairly.

Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Education Secretary Phillipson, suggested she expects the cap would be lifted.

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

Phillipson contended that as a cabinet minister she could make sure direct representation of member concerns at the top of government. In a subsequent pledge, her campaign stated she would regularly gather input from members and trade unions quarterly for presentation at high levels.

She said: “The Labour party draws its strength from its members. That’s why I want to give them enhanced influence in governmental policy implementation, creating channels for communicating movement priorities.

“Solely with my leadership will member voices resonate loud and clear during cabinet discussions.”

Online member voting commenced recently continuing through October, with the result announced two days later.