LONDON – Lucy Powell has been elected as the new Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, pledging to “seize back the political megaphone” and help reunite the country around progressive values in the face of rising “hate and division.”
In a statement released following her election, Powell called it an “honour and privilege” to take on the role, thanking party members and affiliates for their trust.
“This is a really important time for our Party and country,” Powell stated. “With the politics of hate and division on the rise, it falls to us, Labour, as it always has, to defeat it. Together, we can and we must.”
Outlining her immediate priorities, Powell committed to being a “full time Deputy Leader,” focused on building the party’s presence and setting the political agenda. She vowed to start work “straight away” on showcasing Labour’s actions in government and demonstrating “whose side we are on.”
“I will draw on the broad strength of our movement, working day in day out from day one, campaigning with you,” she said, highlighting the importance of upcoming elections across England, Scotland, and Wales next year.
Powell acknowledged the “tough political challenges” but expressed determination to bridge divides. “I’m determined to help re-unite our voters and the country around our progressive values,” she said, focusing on how the country “doesn’t work for ordinary people and how we are fixing it.”
She paid tribute to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, calling her “a great Education Secretary” and pledging to work with her on tackling child poverty and improving life chances.
In a message of unity for the party, Powell affirmed her support for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying she would “play my part” in helping the government “reach back into our communities and workplaces to listen and act.”
She pointed to the government’s early initiatives—including stronger employment rights, the creation of Great British Energy, free breakfast clubs, and the public ownership of rail and buses—as evidence that Labour is “rewriting the country in the interests of the many, not the few.”
Powell also signaled her intent to foster greater inclusion within the party’s broad movement, referencing her ‘Lucy Listens’ events. “It is my job now to make sure you feel included, valued and energised,” she wrote.
Echoing the Prime Minister’s recent conference speech, Powell framed the current political moment as a “fight for the soul of our nation.”
“I’m proud to serve as Labour’s Deputy Leader at such a critical moment for our movement and our country,” she concluded.
