BBC viewers were stunned as Labour MP Lucy Powell engaged in a heated exchange with Victoria Derbyshire on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, where Derbyshire pressed Powell on a 2022 Facebook post demanding a general election after Liz Truss resigned. Derbyshire, who replaced Laura Kuenssberg for the episode, accused Powell of hypocrisy for not calling for an election now.
Derbyshire confronts Powell over Facebook post
Derbyshire opened the segment by quoting Powell's October 20, 2022 Facebook post: “Let the public decide the next prime minister. General election, now.” She then asked: “Do you want a general election now so the public can decide their next prime minister?” Powell attempted to distinguish the situation, saying: “Well I think we were in very particular times after Liz Truss had crashed the economy, making big decisions that had nothing to do with what was in the Conservative manifesto.” Derbyshire interrupted, insisting the principle was the same, and challenged Powell repeatedly.
Powell struggles to defend position
Powell, visibly flustered, stuttered: “What we had- what we had- what we’ve had then was two prime ministers in less than two months, one of whom came along and didn’t listen to anybody around her.” She argued that the current situation is different because Labour was elected on a “very bold and radical manifesto” only two years ago. Derbyshire pressed: “Right, so you don’t think there should be a general election now? Is that not hypocritical?” Powell responded: “No, I don’t. No, I don’t think it is, because I think what people actually want to see now is us getting on with the job, delivering on the manifesto.”
Viewers react to explosive exchange
The clash drew widespread reaction on social media, with many praising Derbyshire's firm questioning and criticising Powell's evasiveness. The episode marked a notable moment for the Sunday programme, which has seen audience shifts since Laura Kuenssberg's departure.
