A Labour figure urges Labour to avoid dismiss upcoming May elections viewing them as certain defeats

Labour should not disregard next May’s elections anticipating heavy defeats, but use the budget to recapture voters’ attention, Lucy Powell stated as the battle to be the party’s deputy leadership reached its concluding phase.

As member voting commences, Bridget Phillipson, contesting the same role, asserted if she won she intends to establish a formal system to reflect the views of members and unions directly to government leaders on a regular basis.

Removed from her cabinet post during the recent ministerial shake-up after the departure of Angela Rayner and has become the favourite to win on an outsider platform, vowing to deliver hard truths to Keir Starmer and his team as needed.

Following engagements with party members, Powell said apprehension exists regarding potential effects on the party of the elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments and councils across England in May, with Labour predicted to see heavy losses, including losses to Reform UK.

Powell, who was leader of the Commons before the reshuffle, said she was unwilling to dismiss this hugely important set of elections” as inevitable midterm pushback, calling for a bold budget in response.

“It’s unacceptable 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-controlled councils after election day next May.”

November’s budget must serve as “an opportunity to mark a break under our past mistakes, demonstrating to the nation whose side we are on”, Powell said, saying it should lift the two-child limit on benefits and make sure fairer distribution of tax responsibilities.

Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Phillipson, the education secretary, indicated she believed the restriction would be abolished.

“I firmly believe our government will do the right thing 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 in her capacity as minister she could make sure members’ concerns were heard directly at the top of government. In a subsequent pledge, her campaign stated she would formally solicit views 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, with more avenues for our movement to tell us about their priorities.

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

Online member voting began last Wednesday continuing through October, with the result announced two days later.