Government must tackle 'inequality', warns Powell

Lucy Powell has issued a major challenge to Sir Keir Starmer's authority, insisting that she will push the prime minister to reconsider the direction of the party in a bid to rescue Labour from its dismal poll ratings.

- DAVID MADDOX

The Manchester Central MP is widely regarded as the frontrunner in the deputy leadership race against education secretary Bridget Phillipson, with voting set to close on Thursday and the result declared on Saturday.

Speaking to The Independent, Ms Powell insisted that if she is declared the winner on Saturday morning, her mandate will be “that we need to make some changes to how we operate” as she admitted the party has “not been able to control the agenda... we’ve made some mistakes, some missteps”.

She says the leadership has failed to listen to MPs, most notably over the welfare rebellion which shook the government before the summer and which she believes was a key factor in her losing her cabinet job.

“I wasn’t [happy about the welfare cuts], and I fed back that there were issues with it, and it was going to be a real challenge. I offered solutions and ways forward and all of that. And if that’s why I was sacked, then so be it,” she said.

But Ms Powell insists she will refuse to be sidelined and will take an active role in trying to rescue the party, after her rival suggested she had an advantage by being part of the cabinet.

“It’s not a choice about inside the tent or outside the tent. I will be at the top of the Labour Party. I will be in all the conversations. I will be deputy leader of the party. I think it’s more what you bring to the table, rather than whether you're at the table or not.