Labour's 'unforced errors' have cost the party support - Powell

LABOUR'S "mistakes" have given the impression that it is "not on the side of ordinary people", a candidate for the party's deputy leadership has said.

- CHRISTOPHER McKEON and MATHILDE GRANDJEAN

In an interview with the BBC, former Commons leader Lucy Powell, pictured right, praised the UK Government's "many achievements", but said people had "lost sense" of Labour's values and "on whose side we are governing".

She told the Political Thinking podcast: "Some of the mistakes that we've made, or some of the unforced errors, have given a sense that we're not on the side of ordinary people."

Her comments came on the day a poll from YouGov showed the Prime Minister had slipped to his lowest favourability rating since becoming Labour leader.

Ms Powell, who was sacked by Sir Keir Starmer in the reshuffle following Angela Rayner's resignation, faces Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson in the contest to become deputy Labour's leader.