The new deputy leader said: “We have to offer hope, to offer the big change the country is crying out for. We must give a stronger sense of our purpose, whose side we are on and of our Labour values and beliefs”
Lucy Powell told Labour faithful it was a “huge privilege” to be elected Deputy leader of the Party. The Manchester Central MP has indicated she will refuse a return to a government role so she can speak more openly about the direction of the party in office. She won the Labour deputy leadership contest with 54% of the vote, while Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson took a 46% share. The new deputy leader said: “We have to offer hope, to offer the big change the country is crying out for. We must give a stronger sense of our purpose, whose side we are on and of our Labour values and beliefs.”
She said that “people feel that this Government is not being bold enough in delivering the kind of change we promised”. The contest was triggered by Angela Rayner’s resignation after she failed to pay the correct stamp duty on a property purchase. Ms Powell received 87,407 votes from the Labour Party membership and affiliates while Ms Phillipson received 73,536 votes but the turnout was just 16.6%.
Lucy Powell’s acceptance speech in full
It’s a huge privilege to be elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. Thank you. Shabana, Hollie and the Party Staff who have conducted this contest with integrity, thank you. Thank you to all of the party members and supporters who voted for me. I will work every day to repay your trust.
I’d like to pay tribute to you Bridget. You are someone of huge talent, dedication and values, and I look forward to continuing to work with you as the excellent Education Secretary you are. I’d also like to pay tribute to my friend Angela Rayner, who has done so much for this party and our country and will do so in the future. Known for her shoes, she leaves big ones to fill!
Fight
Keir, as you set out in your conference speech a few weeks ago, we are now in the fight of our lives. And we really are. Not for ourselves and our fortunes, but for the future of the country and democracy. Division and hate are on the rise. Discontent and disillusionment widespread. The desire for change impatient and palpable. People are looking around, looking elsewhere for answers. We, as the Labour Party, as the Party of Government, have to step forward and take this head on. We have this one big chance to show that progressive, mainstream politics really can change people’s lives for the better. That belief is why most of us joined the Labour Party in the first place. The stakes are really high. Keir, I’m here to help you with that fight as your Deputy.
Hope
We have to offer hope, to offer the big change the country is crying out for. We must give a stronger sense of our purpose, of whose side we are on, of our Labour values and beliefs. That’s what I’ve heard loudly and clearly around the country these last few weeks. As Deputy, my job will be to bring those voices into the heart of our Party. Because whilst we are doing many good things, people feel that this government is not being bold enough in delivering the kind of change we promised. I’ll be the champion of our Labour values and boldness in everything we do. I know that as our Leader, Keir, you want that too. I’ll be your ally in that fight.
Megaphone
It starts with us wrestling back the political megaphone and setting the agenda more strongly. Let’s be honest we’ve let Farage and his ilk run away with it. He wants to blame immigration for all the country’s problems. We reject that. Our diagnosis is different. That for too long the country and the economy has worked in the interests of the few, not the many. That trickle down economics hasn’t worked. Life has just got harder and harder, less and less secure – in work, in housing, in making ends meet. We say that the deep-seated inequalities that have widened, in wealth, in regions, in class, in health, need fundamentally redressing. That’s what we are about and that’s what we’re trying to fix. That’s how we will re-unite our voter coalition and re-unite the country. I’m here to help make that the story of this Labour Government.
Traditions
That’s what Labour governments do, and have always done. Our story began in my home city of Manchester. Workers joined together to demand better pay and conditions, to have a say in how the country was run, solidarity building a lasting movement. My politics have always been shaped by being a proud Mancunian, and being Labour through and through. I stand here now as a Deputy Leader steeped in those traditions. Proud of all that Labour governments have achieved: the NHS, the national minimum wage, council housing, the Equal Pay Act, devolution to Scotland and Wales, Civil Partnerships, the climate change act, Sure Start and much more
Movement
Our movement has always been our strength. Through our members and affiliates we are connected to our communities, workplaces, to the nation’s conversations. I’ve met so many fantastic people in this campaign – decent, moderate, Labour people. We’re joined together by our values and our experiences. All want us to succeed, but need us to step up. They want to see their values in what we are doing. They don’t feel part of the conversation, or part of a movement right now. We have to change that. Our members and elected representatives are not our weakness, they’re our key asset – delivering change on the ground. Unity and loyalty comes from collective purpose, not from command and control. Debating, listening and hearing is not dissent, it’s our strength. As your Deputy, my commitment is to change the culture to get this right.
Conclusion
We can’t waste a moment with hugely important elections across England, in Scotland and Wales next year. The result just this week shows us the task. We won’t win by trying to out Reform, Reform, but by building a broad, progressive consensus. I’ll work day in day out, from day one, to help us with that. Let me end with this: At the election 16 months ago the British people voted for change. I am here to do everything I can to make that change a reality. I am here to help change Britain for the better. And to serve our country and our party. To serve you. Lucy Powell’s speech on ‘huge privilege’ to be elected Deputy Labour leader in full
Thank you.