Labour deputy frontrunner Lucy Powell criticises Starmer as party unrest grows

Keir Starmer is confronting open dissent within his own parliamentary party after deputy leadership frontrunner Lucy Powell delivered a withering assessment of the government and its recent mistakes, while some Labour MPs have told whips they no longer have confidence in his leadership.

Powell, who was removed as Commons leader in a reshuffle less than two weeks ago, told the BBC Political Thinking podcast that the public does not feel the government is "on their side" and that a series of "mistakes and unforced errors" had damaged Labour's standing. The criticism comes as the party seeks to fill the deputy leadership vacancy left by Angela Rayner, who resigned amid scrutiny of her tax affairs.

Powell, the Manchester Central MP and the favourite in an internal contest, said she had viewed herself as a "shop steward" for backbenchers but was sacked because she had given feedback that party management did not want to hear. She said she did not expect to rejoin the Cabinet if elected deputy leader.

"I know I'm not really in the in-crowd, and I don't really sort of play some of the parlour games," Powell said. "I had fed back things that weren't, with hindsight – maybe I thought I was doing the job I was supposed to be doing – but maybe that wasn't feedback people wanted to hear."

Powell acknowledged the government's legislative and policy achievements, pointing to reductions in waiting lists, more NHS appointments, the Employment Rights Bill, and moves to bring railways back into public ownership. She said some policies had been corrected after being reversed, citing the winter fuel allowance cut as an example, but added that those reversals had not fully repaired public perceptions.

A poll this week placed Powell well ahead of the de facto Downing Street candidate, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, in the contest to succeed Rayner. Labour members are expected to choose between Powell and Phillipson by the end of October, with the party's conference scheduled for the end of this month and likely to focus attention on questions about Starmer's authority.

The internal criticism is appearing alongside fallout from a separate controversy: Lord Peter Mandelson's removal as Britain's ambassador to the United States after emails to Jeffrey Epstein were disclosed. The episode has increased pressure on Starmer to steady the government, senior figures say.

Claims circulated that at least 10 Labour MPs had told party whips they had lost confidence in Starmer. Party officials declined to confirm the precise number, and the scale of unrest remained unclear.

Phillipson, who has launched her own campaign for the deputy role, urged unity. "I won't pretend this government hasn't made mistakes – I've been first to admit it," she said when launching her bid, adding that internal division would hand advantage to political opponents.

Powell rejected suggestions she was acting as a "stalking horse" for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, calling characterisations of the contest as a proxy battle between men "sexist" and "completely wrong." She argued the contest presented "two strong women" in an open and transparent contest.

The deputy leadership race and mounting dissent present an early test of Starmer's control of the parliamentary party in his first term. With conference approaching and membership ballots to follow, the outcome could shape Labour's internal dynamics and Starmer's ability to drive policy in the run-up to the next general election.