Harriet Harman has advocated for Lucy Powell to be included in the Cabinet should she emerge victorious in the Labour Deputy leadership contest. Harman, a former chair of the Labour party, emphasized the tradition of the deputy having a cabinet role and highlighted Gordon Brown’s immediate appointment of her to the cabinet in 2007. In an article for The Sunday Mirror, Harman praised both Powell and her competitor Bridget Phillipson, expressing regret over Angela Rayner’s departure.
Both Powell and Phillipson are vying to replace Rayner, who stepped down from the position of Deputy Prime Minister amid a dispute over underpaying stamp duty tax. Harman stressed the expectation for the deputy leader to be part of the top team in a Labour government, citing her own experience of being swiftly placed in the cabinet by Brown upon winning the deputy leadership.
Addressing the current cabinet status, Harman noted that while Phillipson is already a cabinet member, Powell is not, and urged Labour leader Keir Starmer to offer Powell a cabinet seat if she wins. Harman also advised the future winner to take a proactive approach in leading all elections, particularly in the upcoming critical year of 2026.
The announcement of the winner, either Powell or Phillipson, is scheduled for October 25.