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Lucy Powell has been named Labour's new deputy leader. The Manchester Central MP defeated Bridget Phillipson in a vote among party members, with the result announced this morning (October 25). She is the successor to fellow Greater Manchester MP Angela Rayner, following her resignation from the role last month. Manchester-born Ms Powell, who has represented the Manchester Central constituency since a by-election in 2012, campaigned on a platform calling on Labour to change course. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE She won the contest with 54 per cent of the vote, while Ms Phillipson took a 46 per cent share. Following the announcement, 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 added that 'people feel that this Government is not being bold enough in delivering the kind of change we promised' - while insisting that the party 'won't win by trying to out-Reform Reform'. Ms Powell added: “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.” Ms Powell had served as Commons leader in Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet until a reshuffle prompted by Ms Rayner's resignation, when the Manchester Central MP was sacked by the Prime Minister while Ms Phillipson retained her role as Education Secretary. The result could spell trouble for the PM, as Ms Powell will be free to speak out against his Government’s policies from the back benches, rather than being bound by cabinet collective responsibility. She has insisted she wants to 'help Keir and our Government to succeed' - but stated the party 'must change how we are doing things to turn things around'. In a final message to supporters earlier this week, she said Labour had to be 'more in touch with our movement, and the communities and workplaces we represent, more principled and strategic, less tactical, and strongly guided by our values'. The result also followed another bruising week for the PM, with his party's thumping Senedd by-election defeat in Caerphilly, chaos around the proposed grooming gang inquiry. Sir Keir 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. It is the offer we must make to the people of Scotland, Wales and England next year. “And that means we must come together. We must unite. We must keep our focus on what is, in my view, the defining battle for the soul of our nation.” Ms Powell received 87,407 votes from the Labour Party membership and affiliates, while Ms Phillipson received 73,536 votes. However, the turnout was only 16.6 per cent - with 160,993 votes cast out of 970,642 eligible voters. Following the announcement, Ms Phillipson said: “I want to congratulate Lucy on her victory in this contest. It’s crucial that our party now comes together to take the fight to Reform in next year’s crucial Senedd, Holyrood and local elections. “I am obviously disappointed at today’s result but I’m proud of the campaign I’ve run. I want to thank everyone who voted for me in this contest. “I feel privileged to have had the chance of meeting members across the country, talking about their priorities and what they want to see: a united party, talking about the good things this Labour Government is doing, not fixating on our mistakes. “Regardless of today’s result, I will always be a strong voice for our members and trade unions at the Cabinet table and I will still be that powerful campaigning presence at the top of government working to deliver a crucial second term of Labour government.” Ms Powell's election as deputy leader marks the fourth time the Labour Party has elected a woman to this position, following Margaret Beckett, Harriet Harman, and Angela Rayner.
