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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Keir Starmer congratulates Lucy Powell after she is announced as new Deputy Leader of the Labour PartyAlamy Stock Photo UK Labour Party A month after being sacked from Starmer’s cabinet, Lucy Powell elected deputy Labour leader Powell will be free to speak out against UK Government’s policy from the back benches rather than being bound by collective responsibility. 2.36pm, 25 Oct 2025 Share options LUCY POWELL, WHO was sacked from Keir Starmer’s Cabinet last month, has won Labour’s deputy leadership election. It follows a campaign based on a call for the party to change course. The election result could spell trouble for Starmer as Powell will be free to speak out against his UK Government’s policies from the back benches rather than being bound by collective responsibility like her defeated deputy leadership rival, Bridget Phillipson. Powell, the Manchester Central MP, has indicated she will refuse a return to a government role so she can speak more openly about the direction of the party in office. Powell won the Labour deputy leadership contest with 54% of the vote, while Phillipson took a 46% share. The new deputy leader said: “We have to offer hope, to offer the big change the country is crying out for. “We must give a stronger sense of our purpose, whose side we are on and of our Labour values and beliefs.” She said that “people feel that this Government is not being bold enough in delivering the kind of change we promised”. The contest was triggered by Angela Rayner’s resignation after she failed to pay the correct stamp duty on a property purchase. Advertisement Powell received 87,407 votes from the Labour Party membership and affiliates while Phillipson received 73,536 votes but the turnout was just 16.6% In an apparent criticism of Labour’s approach to tackling Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, she said Labour “won’t win by trying to out-Reform Reform” after being crowned the party’s deputy leader. Speaking after her victory, Powell said: “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.” The Manchester Central MP added: “We won’t win by trying to out-Reform Reform, but by building a broad progressive consensus.” Powell’s election follows a bruising few days for Starmer after the chaos in the grooming gangs inquiry, the return of a small boat migrant who was sent to France under the one in, one out deal, the blunder which saw Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu released from prison, and defeat for Labour in its Welsh stronghold of Caerphilly. Starmer said: “We must press ahead with the renewal that working people need to see. “Now, this week, we received another reminder of just how urgent that task is. “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. “Renewal is the only answer to decline, to grievance and to division and we have to keep going on that.” Press Association Viewcomments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “A month after being sacked from Starmer’s cabinet, Lucy Powell elected deputy Labour leader”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “A month after being sacked from Starmer’s cabinet, Lucy Powell elected deputy Labour leader”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. 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