Lucy Powell has been elected deputy leader of the Labour Party, defeating Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson by 54% to 46% on a turnout of 16.6%. Powell secured 87,407 votes to Phillipson’s 73,536, with the result announced on 25 October. In her remarks, Powell said the party should be “bolder” and rejected any strategy of trying to “out‑Reform” Reform UK.
The post Powell has won is a party office. It does not confer the role of deputy prime minister, which has been held by David Lammy since 5 September following Angela Rayner’s resignation. After the September reshuffle the deputy leadership ceased to be a Cabinet job; Powell will instead sit ex officio on Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and is expected to lead national campaigning.
How the ballot worked matters for interpreting the mandate. Labour uses one‑person‑one‑vote among paid‑up party members and affiliated supporters from trade unions and socialist societies, via a preferential ballot. Candidates first needed 20% of MPs then either 5% of constituency parties or affiliates representing 5% of affiliated membership to reach the ballot. Guardian figures suggest 970,642 people were eligible to vote in this contest.
Union positioning was mixed. UNISON and GMB endorsed Phillipson, while Unite declined to nominate either candidate. Powell drew backing from the CWU, ASLEF and the FBU and led CLP nominations, signalling strong constituency‑level support even as some major affiliates split.
Powell’s pitch combined loyalty to the government with a call for a course correction. She promised to channel members’ views through the party structure and argued Labour should set its own agenda rather than echo Reform UK’s framing. Her win follows her removal from Cabinet in September, which became a campaign theme for members seeking a stronger internal voice.
The result lands after a difficult week for the government. Labour fell to third in the Caerphilly Senedd by‑election, won by Plaid Cymru, and ministers faced questions after the mistaken release of a convicted sex offender from HMP Chelmsford, now the subject of a Metropolitan Police manhunt. The separate national inquiry work on grooming gangs has also been turbulent, with survivor resignations and a prospective chair pulling out.
Policy context also shaped the race. In June, the government reversed parts of its earlier restriction of winter fuel payments, expanding eligibility for this winter after criticism from MPs and campaigners. Powell repeatedly cited the winter fuel allowance as an avoidable mistake if wider voices had been heard earlier.
Attention now turns to the Budget on Wednesday 26 November. The Treasury has confirmed the date, and independent analysts, including the IFS, have warned against a rushed push for revenue that could undermine credibility. Ministers have ruled out rises to the main rates of Income Tax, National Insurance and VAT, focusing attention on reliefs and allowances.
Practically, Powell’s influence will be organisational and political rather than executive. As deputy leader and NEC member she can shape campaigning priorities, candidate oversight and conference strategy, but fiscal and legislative choices remain for the Chancellor and Cabinet, subject to Parliament and OBR scrutiny.
For unions and members, today’s outcome resets channels rather than policy. Affiliate splits and a low overall turnout reflect a complex selectorate of individual members and opted‑in affiliated supporters; re‑engaging both groups will be central to rebuilding campaign capacity through winter.
The near‑term test is electoral. England’s next major local elections, alongside Holyrood and Senedd votes, are scheduled for 7 May 2026. Powell will be expected to front mobilisation and message discipline across those contests while the government seeks to stabilise policy delivery.
Starmer and Phillipson have both urged unity. Whether Powell’s member‑level mandate strengthens Labour’s campaign machine or exposes deeper internal strains will become clearer as Budget measures are set and the 2026 electoral calendar approaches.