Writing for The Mirror, Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell urges the party to unite behind Keir Starmer ahead of major elections in England, Scotland and Wales in 2026
Being elected Labour Deputy Leader wasn’t even vaguely on my radar as I looked ahead to 2025 last New Year. It’s been a big surprise but a huge honour. A big responsibility to hold such an historic and important role in the Labour Party, especially in the times we are in.
Labour Party members voted for me for a few reasons. They want a Deputy that helps Labour do better, and give a clearer sense of what we stand for and whose side we are on. At the same time, they made clear to me, as they still do, that I must do this as part of one, united team, not throwing bricks from the sidelines. I gave my commitment to both.
It’s more important than ever that we get this right. Over the past decade or more life has got harder and harder for ordinary people. A job no longer enough for a decent living standard. Having a secure and affordable home is further from reach, especially for the younger generation. The world of work is changing fast, and global conflict and migration affects us here at home.
That’s why people I meet right around Britain are crying out for change, for their voice to be heard and for politicians who get it. Everyone in the Labour Party knows we need to show that’s us and that’s what we are addressing together, because if we don’t people will turn elsewhere to those who give false promises and easy answers. Fundamentally changing the country, our public services and the economy to work in the interests of ordinary people is much harder than that.
To better tell that story and demonstrate that mainstream politics can bring about real change, we also have to put in the hard yards, get our heads down, and bring people with us, not get involved in naval-gazing and blame.
Let’s take the Budget – it was unashamedly Labour. Lifting half a million children out of poverty, the majority families in work, paid for by a mansion tax, a gambling levy, and fairer taxes on income earned from assets. That’s before you get to pay increases for the lowest paid, £150 off energy bills, getting waiting lists down and more free school meals. A Labour government, led by Keir Starmer, for the many, not just the few.
I get as frustrated as the next person when this isn’t the story people get to hear. But cutting through the noise, and sharing our message is made all the harder when we hang out our dirty washing for all to see.
That’s why, as we look towards early 2026, with some big Labour policies coming into effect – better sick pay, pay rises for low earners, a better deal for renters, rail into public ownership, new social housing, a big rise in the state pension, help with costs for families and ending zero hours contracts – we must stay focussed on championing them. We won’t get the chance to do so again.
And with big elections across Britain early next year, we must all get behind Keir Starmer, so we don’t gift our opponents – especially Reform – councils to run badly, or a power base in Wales or Scotland to run amok. We, as Labour, owe it to the country to pull together, put the country first and defeat the politics of hate and division. To do that we have to be united ourselves.