The Gloves are off in the contest to become Labour’s Deputy leader as the Education Secretary made a thinly veiled jab at Powell over her intention not to serve in the cabinet should she win the deputy leadership election.
Issuing a statement to Fabian members,when talking about the threat of Reform Bridget Phillipson said “We won’t beat them if we ourselves are divided as a party. We won’t win with a deputy leader on the outside, throwing rocks and with no clout.”
The Education Secretary is currently behind in opinion polls for the contest, she added that “Divided parties don’t win elections. Labour members know that better than most. We spent 14 long years in opposition because we couldn’t win elections, and saw the country suffer as a result.”
Interviewed meanwhile in the New Statesman Phillipson issued another warning to Powell who has demanded a “course-correction” and has pledged not to serve in government, threatens party unity. “We can’t be airing our dirty linen in public.”
Powell currently sits on 57% and Phillipson on 26%, with 18% undecided in the latest measure of polls.
In her statement to Fabian members the Manchester Central MP said she would be a
“strong, independent voice for progressive change, linking the heart of our party – our members, unions, elected representatives, socialist societies and the communities we all live in – with the head of our party in government”.
She said: “At the moment, there’s a feeling of frustration in our party and the country. Politics is moving incredibly fast and government is slow. The public aren’t hearing about the real change we’re making, because of the missteps, mistakes and misjudgements we’ve made; and not enough is being done to draw our members, MPs and councillors in.
“A culture change is needed at the top of our party to help us avoid making the same mistakes again and connect with communities again. The groupthink must end.
