A Labour figure calls on party not to dismiss May local elections as inevitable losses

Labour should not “write off” next May’s elections anticipating heavy defeats, instead leveraging the upcoming fiscal plan to recapture voters’ attention, Lucy Powell has said amid the contest for deputy leadership entered its final period.

With voting among party members under way, Bridget Phillipson, Powell’s rival for the post, said if she won she would set up an official framework to reflect the views of members and unions directly to government leaders at regular intervals.

Powell was sacked from the cabinet in last month’s reshuffle after the departure of Angela Rayner and has become the favourite to win positioning as an independent voice, vowing to deliver hard truths to Keir Starmer and his team as needed.

Following engagements with party members, Powell expressed apprehension exists regarding potential effects 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.

Previously Commons leader until the reshuffle, said she was “not prepared to write off these crucial electoral contests” as typical midterm backlash, advocating for an ambitious fiscal plan in response.

“It’s not OK if we are losing good Labour councillors and councils through no fault of their own, due to national-level errors,” she emphasized. “We need to reset the agenda so that more communities don’t wake up to Reform and other councils post-election next May.”

November’s budget must serve as “an opportunity to mark a break from previous errors, and show the country whose side we are on”, Powell said, proposing it removes 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, indicated she believed the restriction would be abolished.

“I am confident our government will do the right thing by children growing up in poverty in our country,” she affirmed. “We’ve initiated this effort. Further action is needed. I will ensure its completion.”

Phillipson contended that as a cabinet minister she could guarantee direct representation of member concerns within senior government circles. Through an additional commitment, her team said she would regularly gather input from members and trade unions every three months for presentation at high levels.

She said: “Labour’s vitality stems from its membership. Thus I aim to provide them a stronger voice in how the government delivers its agenda, creating channels for communicating movement priorities.

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

Online member voting began last Wednesday and will run until 23 October, results following two days after.