DOG WHISTLE BESTS LEGO HEAD

An awkward embrace as Lucy Powell is elected deputy leader

In an absolutely woeful contest, Lucy Powell has emerged victorious over Bridget Williamson in the fight to succeed Angela Rayner as Labour's deputy leader.  Less than 17 per cent of Labour members and affiliates could muster the enthusiasm to cast a vote, with Powell receiving 87,407 votes against Williamson's 73,506.  The poor turnout is in stark contrast to the last deputy leadership election, in which Rayner stormed to victory on an almost 60 per cent turnout.

A lot has happened since the 2020 election and while Rayner did not publicly rock Starmer's boat too much, it's unclear whether her successor will be similarly brought to heel.  Like Rayner, Powell is another Greater Manchester MP on the soft left of the party, and her victory was definitely not what Starmer wanted.  His much preferred option was rising star Phillipson, who - as a centrist like him - could have steadied his sinking ship.

Instead, it's the woman he sacked as Commons Leader less than two months ago.  Powell was reportedly not best pleased with her dismissal, which should have happened four months earlier when she made her disgusting remarks about rape gangs.  However, Starmer stood by her during that controversy, something that will now haunt both of them as they reluctantly team up.

The deputy election outcome is another dagger in a long list of mostly self-inflicted wounds for Starmer.  Time will tell as to how much damage Powell can inflict on his position.  She already has a rocky relationship with his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, and as a close ally of Andy Burnham, she potentially has another motive for undermining Starmer.  Her position on digital IDs is unclear, with many on the left of the party opposed to the non-manifesto policy.  It could be another future flashpoint, with passage through the Commons by no means guaranteed at this point.

The election itself may have been uninspiring, but the result is further proof that the party remains divided.  With Powell back in the sphere of influence, that division could grow exponentially.

David Lammy remains the deputy PM, which is a separate post to that of deputy leader and is appointed by the PM as opposed to the membership.