A Labour figure urges Labour not to dismiss May local elections as inevitable losses

The party must avoid “write off” next May’s elections as a likely moment for big losses, instead leveraging the budget to recapture public focus, the former minister has said amid the contest to be the party’s deputy leadership reached its concluding phase.

With voting among party members under way, Bridget Phillipson, contesting the same role, asserted upon victory she would set up an official framework to convey grassroots and union opinions directly to government leaders at regular intervals.

Powell was sacked from the cabinet in last month’s reshuffle following Angela Rayner’s exit emerging as the frontrunner positioning as an independent voice, vowing to deliver hard truths to the party leadership as needed.

Speaking after a series of events with members, Powell expressed apprehension exists about the possible impact on the party of the elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments alongside English local councils in May, where significant setbacks are forecast, including losses to Reform UK.

Powell, who was leader of the Commons until the reshuffle, said she was unwilling to dismiss these crucial electoral contests” as typical midterm backlash, advocating for an ambitious fiscal plan as a countermeasure.

“It’s not OK to lose good Labour councillors and councils through external factors, because of the missteps we’ve taken nationally,” she said. “We need to reset the agenda preventing communities from awakening to Reform and other councils post-election in May.”

November’s budget should be “a moment to draw a line from previous errors, and show the country whose side we are on”, Powell articulated, proposing it removes the two-child limit on benefits and make sure the tax burden was shared more fairly.

During a BBC interview, Education Secretary Phillipson, indicated she believed the restriction would be abolished.

“I am confident that we as a government will act appropriately for children in poverty across the nation,” she said. “We’ve already started that process. Further action is needed. I will make that happen.”

Phillipson argued that as a cabinet minister she could make sure members’ concerns were heard directly at the top of government. Through an additional commitment, her team said she would regularly gather input from members and unions every three months to present in this way.

She said: “The Labour party draws its strength from its members. Thus I aim to provide them a stronger voice in governmental policy implementation, with more avenues for our movement to tell us about their priorities.

“Solely with my leadership will member voices resonate distinctly during cabinet discussions.”

Online member voting began last Wednesday and will run until 23 October, with the result announced two days later.