Seven weeks ago, Angela Rayner stepped down as the deputy leader of the Labour Party, leading to an unwanted party contest. Today, the new deputy leader will be announced at a low-key event at Labour’s headquarters, with Shabana Mahmood, the chair of the National Executive Committee (NEC), revealing the winner at 10 am.
The winning candidate will have the opportunity to deliver a brief speech, with congratulatory messages anticipated from Keir Starmer. Recent polls among party members suggest that Lucy Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, may secure the deputy leader position, holding a significant lead over her competitor, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
Despite this, Phillipson’s campaign remains optimistic about a potential victory, emphasizing her efforts in government to introduce popular initiatives such as free school breakfasts and expanded free school meals. However, some view her as the preferred choice of No10, which she finds ironic, given the previous speculations of being sacked.
While some consider the deputy leader contest insignificant, Powell, if elected, is not expected to join the Cabinet. Powell has highlighted this as an advantage during her campaign, positioning herself as a full-time deputy leader without the constraints of a Cabinet role.
Amid varying opinions on the relevance of the deputy leader role, Powell’s potential win is seen as a message to Downing Street for necessary changes. She aims to address issues like benefit cuts and advocates for urgent policy changes, reflecting a desire for a different approach within the party.
The upcoming Budget announcement will be crucial, as it may spark a public disagreement between Starmer and the newly elected deputy leader if the controversial two-child benefit limit policy is not addressed. This situation highlights the importance of policy alignment within the Labour Party and the potential impact of the deputy leader’s role on shaping future decisions.
