Lucy Powell urges party to avoid dismiss upcoming May elections viewing them as inevitable losses

Labour should not “write off” next May’s elections as a likely moment for big losses, but use the upcoming fiscal plan as a way to seize back voters’ attention, Lucy Powell stated amid the contest for deputy leadership entered its final period.

As member voting commences, her rival, contesting the same role, said if she won she would set up an official framework to convey grassroots and union opinions directly to government leaders at regular intervals.

Powell was sacked from the cabinet in last month’s reshuffle following Angela Rayner’s exit and has become the favourite to win positioning as an independent voice, vowing to deliver hard truths to the party leadership when necessary.

Following engagements with party members, Powell said apprehension exists about the possible impact on the party from Scottish and Welsh parliamentary races and councils across England next May, where significant setbacks are forecast, many to Reform UK.

Powell, who was leader of the Commons before the reshuffle, declared she is “not prepared to write off this hugely important set of elections” as typical midterm backlash, calling for a bold budget as a countermeasure.

“It’s not OK to lose good Labour councillors and councils through no fault of their own, due to national-level errors,” she said. “We must redefine our priorities so that more communities don’t wake up to Reform and other councils post-election in May.”

The 26 November budget must serve as “an opportunity to mark a break under our past mistakes, and show the country whose side we are on”, Powell articulated, saying it should lift the two-child limit on benefits ensuring the tax burden was shared more fairly.

Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Education Secretary Phillipson, indicated she believed the cap would be lifted.

“I firmly believe our government will act appropriately for children in poverty across the nation,” she affirmed. “We’ve already started that process. There’s more to do. I will make that happen.”

Phillipson contended that as a cabinet minister she could make sure members’ concerns were heard directly within senior government circles. Through an additional commitment, her campaign stated 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 enhanced influence in how the government delivers its agenda, creating channels for communicating movement priorities.

“Only under my deputy leadership will member voices resonate distinctly during cabinet discussions.”

Electronic voting among party members began last Wednesday and will run until 23 October, results following two days after.