Labour deputy leadership contender, Lucy Powell, has criticized the “sexist” efforts to frame the competition as a showdown between Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham. Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, is vying against Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to replace Angela Rayner as the party’s deputy leader following Rayner’s resignation over a stamp duty issue.
The leadership contest follows a turbulent period for the Prime Minister, marked by the unraveling of his promised reset due to the departures of Rayner and US ambassador Peter Mandelson, raising concerns among Labour MPs. Some in Westminster view the deputy leadership race as a clash between the PM, purportedly supporting Phillipson, and Burnham, who has endorsed Powell as his ally in Manchester.
However, Powell denounced the characterization of the competition as a male-centric proxy battle, labeling it as “sexist.” She emphasized her independence, stating, “Woe betide anyone who wants to try and tell me that I’m subservient to some other man. I’m probably more alpha male than most men I know.”
While acknowledging the government’s missteps, Powell expressed her loyalty to the PM and stressed the need for constructive dialogue on the party’s performance. She highlighted the importance of communicating Labour’s achievements effectively, particularly in serving working-class voters in the North.
In response to speculations about Burnham’s potential leadership ambitions, a close associate dismissed such claims as baseless. Meanwhile, Labour veteran Harriet Harman dismissed the notion that the contest revolves around two men, emphasizing that it is a competition between two dynamic and inspiring women.
Phillipson cautioned Labour against internal divisions, warning that a united party is essential for electoral success, particularly with crucial elections on the horizon in Scotland, Wales, and locally. She underscored the significance of unity in countering the electoral threat posed by Nigel Farage and Reform.
This article was originally published on the Mirror website.