Powell's election proves party members want change

Lucy Powell has defeated cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson in the race to succeed Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader.

- MILLIE COOKE

The former leader of the Commons has long been seen as more of a challenger to the current status quo in Labour than her rival. While both candidates promised to spend more time listening to the party's membership, Powell - who was sacked as a minister in the reshuffle that followed Rayner's resignation just months ago – was seen as more of a “change” candidate than her rival Phillipson. Her victory is likely to be seen as a call from the Labour membership for a new direction amid growing unhappiness with Sir Keir Starmer's government.

Powell, who says her politics were shaped by growing up in the North under Margaret Thatcher, is seen to sit on the party's “soft left” and, launching her leadership bid, promised to urge the prime minister to pursue “bold policies, rooted in progressive Labour values”.