Labour’s new deputy leader says party must pay more heed to its members

Exclusive: Lucy Powell, who was sacked as Commons leader by Starmer in September, says government should stop trying to out-Reform Reform'

Labour's new deputy leader, Lucy Powell, has said the government must listen to its members instead of being guided by a narrow group of voices" as it battles to stave off electoral disaster in next May's local elections.

Powell defeated the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, in the deputy leadership contest, which concluded on Saturday. She said she had been given a clear mandate that members want their voice to be heard at the top of the party".