Lucy Powell told Labour’s deputy leadership hustings her 21-year-old son and friends have “really struggled with me actually being in the Labour government” over the last year.
The Manchester MP who is standing against the education Secretary Bridget Phillipson for the post vacated by Angela Rayner told the audience:
“We have got to be honest, we’re not attracting young people to our movement in the way that we once did and should”.
Powell who is the front runner in the contest told the audience
“I can be your shop steward… This is your vote, your choice. This is a party role, not a government one,” she says. “I will be a full time deputy leader, not in the Cabinet but in constituencies.”
And criticised the Downing Street team around Sir Keir, saying they were guilty of “groupthink” which led to poor decision making.
Bridget Phillipson accused her rival of stoking “division and disunity” in the party said that in contrast the she will be members’ voice “at the Cabinet table”, saying the alternative is division which will appear in the “right wing newspapers”
In her closing speech she said that
“ Last year we came together to secure a Labour Government after 14 long years. This is a golden opportunity to change our country and we cannot lose it.
“Now we face the spectre of Farage with his dangerous nationalism and immoral policies. I want us to turn this Government around, not to turn on each other. Change is on the ballot at the election, the choice is what kind of change.”
