Lucy Powell calls on party to avoid ‘write off’ May local elections as inevitable losses

Labour should not disregard next May’s elections anticipating heavy defeats, but use the budget to recapture voters’ attention, Lucy Powell stated amid the contest for deputy leadership entered its final period.

With voting among party members under way, her rival, Powell’s rival for the post, asserted if she won she intends to establish a formal system to reflect the views of members and unions directly to government leaders on a regular basis.

Removed from her cabinet post in last month’s reshuffle 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 said there was concern about the possible impact on the party of the elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments and councils across England in May, with Labour predicted to see heavy losses, many to Reform UK.

Powell, who was leader of the Commons before the reshuffle, declared she is unwilling to dismiss these crucial electoral contests” as inevitable midterm pushback, calling for a bold budget as a countermeasure.

“It’s unacceptable to lose 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 post-election next May.”

November’s budget should be “an opportunity to mark a break from previous errors, and show the country where our allegiance lies”, Powell said, proposing it removes the two-child benefit cap ensuring fairer distribution of tax responsibilities.

During a BBC interview, Phillipson, the education secretary, indicated she believed the restriction would be abolished.

“I firmly believe that we as a government will do the right thing by children growing up in poverty across the nation,” she said. “We’ve already started that process. There’s more to do. I will make that happen.”

Phillipson contended in her capacity as minister she could guarantee direct representation of member concerns at the top of government. Through an additional commitment, her team said she would formally solicit views from members and trade unions every three months for presentation at high levels.

She declared: “Labour’s vitality stems from its membership. That’s why I want to give them a stronger voice in governmental policy implementation, creating channels for communicating movement priorities.

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

Electronic voting among party members commenced recently and will run until 23 October, with the result announced two days later.