Labour’s political landscape was dramatically reshaped this weekend as Lucy Powell emerged victorious in the party’s deputy leadership race, promising to push for a bolder direction and give grassroots members a louder voice. The contest, triggered by Angela Rayner’s resignation last month after she admitted to underpaying tax on a house purchase, concluded on Saturday, October 25, 2025, with Powell defeating Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson by nearly 14,000 votes. The result capped off a bruising week for Labour and its leader, Sir Keir Starmer, who is now facing mounting pressure to deliver tangible change amid electoral setbacks and internal divisions.
Powell’s win, announced to much anticipation, saw her secure 87,407 votes to Phillipson’s 73,536, on a modest turnout of just 16.6% of eligible party members and affiliates. According to BBC, Powell’s campaign resonated with members who felt disillusioned with the current direction of the government under Starmer, pledging to champion Labour values and act as a conduit for the grassroots. "We must give a stronger sense of our purpose, whose side we are on and of our Labour values and beliefs," Powell declared in her victory speech, as reported by The Sunday Times. "I'll be a champion for our Labour values and boldness in everything we do, and I know that you Keir, as our leader, want that – and I will be your ally in that fight."
The deputy leadership race was marked by a clear divide in approach and vision. While Phillipson, seen as the leadership’s preferred candidate, cautioned against division and disunity, Powell insisted the party needed to listen to a broader range of voices to avoid political missteps. This sentiment was amplified by her call for a "course correction" in government and her vow to empower grassroots members. Powell, who was sacked from her cabinet position as Commons leader just last month, was widely viewed as the 'anti-Starmer' candidate, drawing endorsements from prominent Labour figures critical of the leadership, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Powell’s election comes at a critical juncture for Labour. On Friday, October 24, 2025, the party suffered a historic defeat in the Senedd by-election in Caerphilly, a seat it had held for over a century. Plaid Cymru captured the constituency for the first time, with Labour relegated to a distant third, securing just 11% of the vote. Reform UK finished second, underscoring the growing challenge posed by Nigel Farage’s movement. The loss in Caerphilly, once a Labour stronghold, has been described by Health Secretary Wes Streeting as a wake-up call. Speaking to The Sunday Times, Streeting drew parallels to the 2021 Hartlepool by-election, which had similarly shaken Labour’s leadership: "We’ve got to take the message from Caerphilly not just on the chin, we’ve got to take it to heart — and we have got to change the way our Labour Government drives change and delivers in just the same way we did in opposition after Hartlepool."
Prime Minister Starmer publicly acknowledged the setback, calling the result "a bad result in Wales, I accept that, but a reminder that people need to look out their window and see change and renewal in their community, opportunities for their children, public services rebuilt, the cost of living crisis tackled." He emphasized that renewal was the only answer to decline, grievance, and division, and urged the party to press ahead with its reform agenda.
Powell’s stance on Labour’s future direction is clear. She has repeatedly warned against shifting the party to the right in response to the threat from Reform UK, cautioning, "we can't out-Reform Reform." Instead, she advocates for building a broad progressive consensus and reclaiming the political agenda from Farage and his allies. "It starts with us wrestling back the political megaphone and setting the agenda more strongly, because let's be honest we've let Farage and his ilk run away with it. He wants to blame immigration for all the country’s problems. We reject that. Our diagnosis is different: that for too long, the country and the economy has worked in the interests of the few, not the many," she stated, according to BBC.
The leadership contest itself was not without controversy. While both candidates are seen as close politically and served together in cabinet, the campaign saw moments of mud-slinging and accusations of sexist briefings. Hustings at Labour’s conference highlighted the party’s internal divisions, with Powell pushing for greater inclusivity in decision-making and Phillipson emphasizing unity. The union Unite, a major Labour affiliate, notably withheld its support from either candidate, contributing to the low turnout and raising questions about the engagement of the party’s traditional base.
Powell’s elevation to deputy leader also marks a shift in Labour’s internal dynamics. Unlike her predecessor, Angela Rayner, who held the title of deputy prime minister and acted as a bridge between the leadership and the party’s working-class and union roots, Powell’s role is now purely a party position. However, she will sit on Labour’s powerful National Executive Committee and serve as the party’s "campaigner-in-chief," a role that grants her significant influence over the party’s strategy heading into a pivotal period. The coming months will see Chancellor Rachel Reeves deliver a much-anticipated Budget, expected to include tax increases, as well as crucial council elections in England and contests in Scotland and Wales.
Despite pledging to support Starmer and help the government succeed, Powell has made it clear she will not shy away from representing the concerns of grassroots members to the leadership. She has insisted, "I will not be throwing bricks at Keir, but I will attempt to represent the concerns of grassroots members to the party leader." Her ability to speak out from the backbenches, free from the constraints of collective responsibility, could either strengthen Labour’s campaign machine or deepen internal strains, as previous deputy leaders have alternately acted as unifying figures or sources of division.
The wider political context has added to the sense of urgency within Labour. The government has faced criticism over its handling of the grooming gangs inquiry, the mistaken release of a migrant sex offender from prison, and ongoing challenges in public services. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy has ordered an independent investigation into the prison blunder, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting has sought to shift the narrative by touting NHS reforms, including nearly half a million extra tests carried out by independent providers and reduced waiting times for patients willing to travel to hospitals with shorter queues. Streeting emphasized, "We are not prepared to continue two-tier healthcare and wealth shouldn’t determine health," according to Politics Hub.
Powell’s victory, while decisive, did not deliver an overwhelming mandate. The 54% to 46% margin suggests that Labour members remain divided over the party’s direction under Starmer, and the low turnout hints at broader disengagement. As Labour prepares for a crucial period of policy decisions and electoral tests, the relationship between Starmer and his new deputy will be closely watched. Whether Powell’s election heralds a new era of boldness and renewal or exacerbates existing tensions could shape Labour’s fortunes for months to come.
For now, Labour’s leadership faces a defining challenge: to unite a fractious party, respond to the demands of its grassroots, and convince voters that it can deliver the big change the country is crying out for. The stakes could hardly be higher.
