Labor must unite behind Starmer, the deputy leader said

Labor must unite behind Keir Starmer or risk being defeated by Reform England at next year’s local elections, Lucy Powell has warned.

The deputy chairman warned against “navel gazing” or “throwing bricks from the sidelines” and said the party must unite to get its message across before next May.

His intervention comes after a difficult few weeks for the government dominated by speculation about challenges to the Prime Minister’s leadership and pressure around the Chancellor’s budget in November.

Writing for the Mirror, Powell said the autumn statement was “unabashedly Labour”, citing the decision to lift the two-child allowance limit and impose a so-called “mansion tax” on high-value homes.

“A Labor government, led by Keir Starmer, benefits the many people, not just the few,” he said.

“I’m as frustrated as anyone when these stories can’t be heard. But drowning out the noise and getting the message out will be even harder if we hang out our dirty laundry for everyone to see.”

Powell denied that he had spoken about “a particular group” within the party when asked about his comments on Saturday.

“It’s nothing personal, what I’m making here is that we have to make a big argument,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“This is a highly contested space. What Reform and our political opponents are offering is, in my opinion, the wrong direction for this country.

“This is a misdiagnosis of what is wrong, pitting neighborhoods and communities against one another, rather than addressing the big, fundamental problems we face.”

Workers ‘must give confidence’

Powell dismissed suggestions that the government was alienating voters, but accepted that he had heard from lawmakers who were “concerned about some of the language” on immigration.

When asked whether the No. 10 nation was hearing concerns about stricter asylum policies, Powell said: “I’m also hearing it from members who are concerned about the language that’s being used and concerned about whether we’re setting the agenda on some of these issues.

“I think what we all agree on is that Reformation’s analysis of this situation is wrong.”

He defended Home Minister Shabana Mahmood’s policy, which he said would fulfill the promise of safe haven for people “genuinely” fleeing persecution or terror.

“I think we have to give people confidence that we can control our borders,” Powell said.

Earlier this week, Wes Streeting voiced his frustration with the Labor leadership’s “technocratic approach” and said the Government risked presenting itself as a “state maintenance department”, just weeks after he was accused of plotting to oust Starmer.

The Cabinet minister later said he was not singling out the Prime Minister for criticism but was referring to wider challenges, and ruled out the possibility of a tilt in the leadership.

Asked if he agreed with Streeting’s diagnosis, Powell said: “We definitely have a major repair job to do, so I agree with him on that in terms of the maintenance department.

“This is a huge repair job, and we have to tell our story more powerfully.”

By Nina Lloyd, Press Association Political Correspondent