Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell Vie for Labour Deputy Leadership

Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell are set to compete for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party as they enter a ballot of party members. Both candidates successfully crossed the necessary threshold to be included on the ballot following support from trade unions and nominations from constituency Labour parties (CLPs). They secured backing from at least 80 Members of Parliament (MPs), enabling them to pursue this significant role within the party.

On Friday, Ms. Phillipson became the first candidate to secure her position on the ballot after receiving endorsement from the National Union of Mineworkers, marking the third trade union to publicly support her candidacy, following endorsements from Usdaw and Community. The Education Secretary expressed her gratitude, stating she was “honoured to be the first candidate on the ballot paper.” She emphasized her commitment to being a “campaigning deputy leader at the Cabinet table.”

Ms. Powell’s campaign confirmed late on Friday that she had also met the criteria for inclusion on the ballot, largely due to support from CLPs. A source within her campaign highlighted two successful evenings of CLP nominations, indicating that Labour members resonate with Lucy’s message of unity and hope. This source noted that Ms. Powell’s candidacy has already influenced discussions around pressing issues such as child poverty.

In her previous statements, Ms. Powell urged ministers to clarify their intentions regarding the abolition of the two-child benefit cap. She asserted that this policy should be addressed as part of a broader strategy to combat child poverty. Echoing these sentiments, Ms. Phillipson described the cap as a “spiteful” policy that must be reconsidered in the fight against poverty. She framed tackling child poverty as a deeply personal mission, calling for a mandate to strengthen these efforts as deputy leader.

The support for abolishing the two-child cap appears to be gaining momentum within the Cabinet, particularly given Ms. Phillipson’s backing from Downing Street. She is also co-chair of the child poverty taskforce established by the Government, which is expected to present its recommendations ahead of the Budget in November. The taskforce’s strategy is anticipated to include a thorough examination of the two-child cap.

Alison Garnham, the chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, commented on the situation, stating, “Hopefully there is now a clear understanding across Government that unless the two-child limit is scrapped, there will be more children in poverty at the end of this parliament than when Labour took office.” She stressed the necessity of addressing the policy in the upcoming autumn child poverty strategy to avoid further jeopardizing the life chances of vulnerable children.

While Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has not explicitly committed to abolishing the cap, he has refrained from ruling it out. As the campaign progresses, Ms. Phillipson and Ms. Powell are scheduled to participate in a hustings event on the final day of Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool. The results of the deputy leadership contest will be announced on October 25, 2023, as members cast their votes in the coming weeks.