In a surprising twist that could reshape Sir Keir Starmer's top team, exclusive new polling indicates that frontbencher Lucy Powell is the membership's preferred choice for Deputy Leader, potentially sidelining the Leader's favoured candidate, Bridget Phillipson.
The internal data, seen by political insiders, suggests a significant rift between the parliamentary party's preferences and the broader membership's desires for the future direction of the Labour Party.
Polling Data Reveals Membership's Choice
The survey, conducted amongst party members, places Lucy Powell in a commanding lead. Her experience and communicative style are believed to resonate more deeply with the grassroots, who will ultimately decide the contest.
This presents a potential headache for Sir Keir Starmer, who is widely understood to see Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson as a key ally and his natural deputy. The results threaten to disrupt his planned leadership structure before it's even put in place.
What This Means for Starmer's Labour
This internal polling is more than a simple popularity contest; it's a barometer of the party's soul. A victory for Powell could be interpreted as the membership asserting its influence, pushing for a deputy who may offer a different tone or strategic direction to the Leader's office.
The outcome of such an election would signal whether the party apparatus is fully aligned behind Starmer's vision or if there remains a powerful undercurrent seeking a different approach to tackling the Conservatives and formulating policy.
All eyes will now be on the manoeuvrings within the Labour hierarchy as they digest this data and consider the implications for unity and strategy ahead of the next general election.
