Powell rises as favourite for Labour deputy as party eyes post-Rayner leadership

LONDON — Lucy Powell is emerging as the favourite to become Sir Keir Starmer’s deputy leader, a development that has intensified the already charged race to succeed Angela Rayner after she resigned amid scrutiny of stamp-duty issues on her seaside home. The shift comes as a string of Labour insiders and prominent figures gather in rooms that mirror the party’s current battleground: a balance between star power, regional influence, and a demand for a louder voice within the leadership.

At a recent, high-profile drinks party hosted by Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband in his north London townhouse, Powell publicly signaled her bid while the party’s fault lines over Starmer’s leadership were laid bare. Attendees described a mood of friction and realignment, with Powell directing her remarks toward presenting herself as an independent voice capable of challenging the prime minister when backbenchers push back on government policy. The sense in the room was that she had the backing of Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who has positioned himself as a north-centric alternative to London-focused governance. Powell’s response to questions about her independence was emphatic: she would not be a stalking horse for any other figure and would be prepared to confront the prime minister if necessary.

Powell’s ascent rests on a combination of her long-standing Labour credentials and a carefully managed public posture. A Manchester Central MP since 2012, she rose from Moss Side roots to Oxford chemistry, later moving into public relations roles before entering frontline politics. Her Brexit stance—campaigning for a second referendum—positioned her with the party’s “soft left,” and she has framed herself as a practical, no-nonsense legislator who can navigate internal disputes with backbenchers.

Her profile, however, is not without controversy. Critics point to episodes that have underscored what some colleagues perceive as her tendency toward gaffes. The late-2020s record includes remarks that drew derision from economists and political observers. For instance, she warned of a possible run on the pound if the winter-fuel payment had not been axed for pensioners, a statement some described as over-dramatic and ill-titted. In another instance, she faced scrutiny after a BBC appearance in which she pushed back on a controversial documentary, prompting conversations about the timing and tone of her interventions. Supporters argue that these moments reflect a blunt working-class authenticity, while opponents suggest they highlight risks in a potential deputy leader’s public line of questioning.

Powell has other notable associations that weigh on perceptions of her candidacy. She is known for her role as a chair on a cabinet committee and for taking hard but necessary stances on the party’s policy edges. Yet she has also backed some measures that drew criticism within the party, including a controversial round of disability benefit cuts during her time in government. Those positions, combined with her notorious “graft” of assertiveness—a nickname some colleagues credit to her blunt, results-oriented style—have helped cultivate the perception of a politician who will push back against leaders when there is a rift with the backbench.

The race is seen as a two-horse contest between Powell and Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary who had been the initial favourite to win the deputy role. A LabourList poll of party members released in recent days showed Powell with a sizable lead, though MPs remained more divided. Support from Miliband—who once helped steer Powell’s early career and who endorsed her candidacy—offers a significant boost, given his enduring influence within the party. Miliband’s backing also ties Powell to a broader project within Labour to balance regional representation with a push for a female leader in a party that, in its 125-year history, has never elected a woman to the top post. Some MPs believe the deputy role could be a stepping stone to leading the party, should Starmer’s tenure become untenable or if the broader political climate favors a female leader.

Powell’s nickname—“Egg Breaker”—and her openly defiant stance toward what she portrays as a London-centric establishment frame her as a disruptor to conventional Labour politics. She has described herself as someone who will “break” barriers in negotiations and will not bow to pressure simply because of a party tradition. In a public remark to the Manchester Evening News, she insisted that she would not be subservient to any man, asserting that she is “probably more alpha male than most men I know.” Those comments reflect a self-portrayal as a tough, negotiating force who will challenge the PM if there is discord within the party.

If Powell does win the deputy leadership, observers say the constituency of Labour’s future leadership may hinge on a broader question: whether the party can maintain a credible, governance-focused stance while addressing regional inequality and the concerns of working-class voters who helped Labour win back power in recent elections. The party’s internal debates have spotlighted a need to reconcile a potential leadership pipeline with the realities of governing in a country facing economic and social pressures.

The party’s internal timetable remains fluid, with observers noting that leadership trajectories can change rapidly in response to policy developments, electoral trends, and the PM’s alliances. Burnham’s public stance criticizing the government’s London-centric tilt has added to the perception that the party’s geographic balance could become a deciding factor in the deputy leadership race. If Powell secures the deputy post, some expect her to be a catalyst for renewed northern influence and a sharper, more explicit critique of central decision-making.

Ultimately, Labour members will weigh Powell’s readiness to serve in a role designed to bridge backbench sentiment with executive decision-making. Her supporters argue that she can bring a combative but constructive approach to the deputy — an edge they say is necessary to hold the prime minister accountable while keeping Labour united. Detractors, meanwhile, caution that the deputy’s role should be one of steady governance and policy stewardship, rather than a platform for episodic clashes that could destabilize the party ahead of elections.

As the party contends with the fallout from Rayner’s exit and the ongoing reshuffle that followed, Powell’s potential ascent signals that Labour is still negotiating how best to present itself to voters: a pragmatic government-in-waiting that can address regional disparities and economic anxieties, while maintaining a clear voice within the parliamentary party when disagreements arise. Whether Powell will be the deputy who can also become a future leader remains a question that party members will answer in due course, as the leadership contest evolves and the country weighs its options in the next general election.