Lucy Powell elected Labour deputy leader

Lucy Powell has been elected Labour deputy leader, defeating Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson 54% to 46% (87,407 votes to 73,536) in the contest triggered by Angela Rayner’s resignation over an incorrect stamp duty payment; turnout was 16.6%. Powell was sacked from Keir Starmer’s cabinet weeks earlier and was not his preferred candidate. She has said she will refuse a return to government so she can act as the voice of the membership and hold the leadership to account. In her victory speech she criticised the government's record, urged Starmer to be bolder, warned against trying to “out‑Reform Reform,” and pledged to champion Labour values and deliver “big change.” Commentators say her deputy role gives her influence on the NEC and in the party’s top team while remaining outside the cabinet could let her use a measured (submarine) approach to intervene and potentially become a focal point for dissent amid recent poor by-election results.