Labour's deputy leader has sidestepped questions about whether Sir Keir Starmer is the right person to revive the party's fortunes, as the party braces for potentially dire local election results.
Powell's Comments Raise Eyebrows
Lucy Powell, a close ally of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, appeared to stop short of offering the Prime Minister unequivocal support amid growing speculation about his future. While dismissing leadership talk as a 'side issue,' when pressed on whether Sir Keir was best placed to restore the party's prospects, she told the Guardian: 'I'm not going to get into that.'
Her remarks contrast sharply with the stance of other loyalists, who have insisted that Sir Keir is the 'best person' to lead the country. Labour is bracing for a significant setback in Thursday's English council elections, while parliamentary contests in Scotland and Wales could also yield poor results. Both Reform UK and the Green Party are expected to make substantial gains in traditional Labour strongholds.
Leadership Rumours Swirl
With Sir Keir already weakened by the Mandelson controversy, rivals are preparing for the possibility that he might be swept away by a wave of Labour discontent. Rumours have been circulating in Westminster about manoeuvring and deal-making among apparent contenders, including Mr Burnham, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting. However, each faces significant hurdles: Mr Burnham is not even a Member of Parliament, while Ms Rayner is still entangled with HM Revenue and Customs over unpaid stamp duty.
Sir Keir's allies have been scrambling to assemble a survival strategy ahead of the King's Speech on May 13. The Prime Minister appears to have ruled out a reshuffle immediately after the results, fearing it could exacerbate Labour unrest.
Powell's Campaign Trail Remarks
Speaking to the Guardian on the campaign trail in Leeds, Ms Powell—who was elected deputy leader with her own mandate—said: 'There's no magic bullet here for us. We are in a difficult world... I strongly believe that we've got the right agenda to start turning that around. To give people hope, an opportunity and see the change in their communities.'
When challenged on whether Sir Keir was the right leader to deliver that agenda, she responded: 'I'm not going to get into that. I think there's no one change that [will affect] all of these situations. We've still got to tackle these big issues, and we've got to do it in the right way with the right values. Having some side order conversation about personnel and people, I think misses the point.'
Ms Powell acknowledged a 'huge amount of anger, sort of despondency' regarding the Mandelson furore. 'Every day that we're still on the fallout from the Mandelson appointment is a day we're not talking to our communities and our voters about what all our MPs and councillors want us to be talking about,' she said.
Contrasting Tone from Party Chair
Striking a more enthusiastic note, Labour Party Chairwoman Anna Turley told the Mirror: 'Let's be resilient. Let's pull together as a team. We've got the best person that can be in the job. We've got a leader recognized internationally for what he's achieving. We've done so much, but we have so much to do. Let's not get distracted. Let's not keep looking at ourselves. Let's focus on the things that really matter to the people that we represent. Let's keep delivering on them, and let's go further and faster.'
