Labour deputy frontrunner Lucy Powell criticises Keir Starmer as unrest grows within party
Powell, recently sacked from the Commons leadership, says government has made 'unforced errors' while MPs signal loss of confidence in the prime minister
Keir Starmer is facing an intensifying rebellion within his own party after Lucy Powell, the frontrunner in the contest to replace Angela Rayner as Labour deputy leader, publicly criticised what she called the government's "mistakes and unforced errors" and warned the public does not feel the administration is "on their side."
Powell, who was removed from her role as Commons leader in a reshuffle less than two weeks ago, made the remarks on the BBC's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast as a growing number of Labour MPs privately told party whips they have lost confidence in Starmer's leadership. Party sources said at least 10 MPs had informed whips of their views, though others within the parliamentary party suggested the scale of discontent could be larger.
Powell said she had sought to act as a "shop steward" for backbench MPs when she was Commons leader and that she was dismissed because she had not always provided "feedback people wanted to hear." She told the programme that Labour should be championing "a fairer economy that works in the interests of the many and not the few," and that some policy reversals — such as the restoration of the winter fuel allowance — had been necessary after mistakes were acknowledged.
The public criticism comes as Starmer seeks to steady his government following the dismissal of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom's ambassador to the United States after revelations about his email correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. Government officials hope a state visit to the UK by former US president Donald Trump, which began on the day of the unrest, will focus attention elsewhere.
Powell, the Manchester Central MP, has signalled she does not intend to return to the Cabinet if elected deputy leader. She rejected suggestions that her candidacy is a proxy for a power struggle involving Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, calling characterisations of the race as a contest between men "sexist" and wrong. Powell has received public endorsements from Burnham and from Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband, who said she would "speak truth to power." Powell was previously a close aide to Miliband when he led the party.
Her main rival for the deputy post, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, has urged unity, acknowledging shortcomings while warning against internal divisiveness. "I won't pretend this government hasn't made mistakes — I've been first to admit it," Phillipson said when launching her campaign. She warned that internal infighting would benefit opponents outside the party and urged Labour to concentrate on winning a second term.
A poll of Labour members conducted by Survation for the grassroots site LabourList found Powell with a substantial lead when undecided respondents were excluded: 61% backing Powell versus 39% for Phillipson. The deputy position was vacated when Angela Rayner resigned amid scrutiny of her tax affairs. Labour members are set to choose between Powell and Phillipson by the end of October, with party activists voting to determine the next deputy.
Despite mounting criticisms, party rules make it difficult to remove Starmer. To trigger a leadership contest, at least 80 MPs — 20% of the parliamentary party — would need to nominate a challenger, and any such contest would also require endorsement at the annual conference by a card vote. Senior Labour figures and MPs have noted that those thresholds render a successful challenge unlikely this autumn.
Labour's internal tensions and the deputy leadership contest are set against wider political pressures for the governing party, including public scrutiny of recent ministerial appointments and diplomatic fallout from the Mandelson dismissal. Starmer's office declined to comment beyond reiterating the government's commitment to its programme and to addressing voters' concerns.
The coming weeks, including the party's conference at the end of the month, are expected to test Starmer's capacity to reunite the parliamentary party and shore up support among activists. Powell's candidacy has made the deputy race a focal point for broader questions about Labour's direction and priorities, while rival campaigners continue to urge unity ahead of a potentially fractious autumn for the party.