It is an honour and privilege to be writing to you as our Party’s new Deputy Leader.
Thank you to every Labour member and affiliate supporter who had their say and put their trust in me. This is a really important time for our Party and country. With the politics of hate and division on the rise, it falls to us, Labour, as it always has, to defeat it. Together, we can and we must.
That starts with us seizing back the political megaphone and setting the agenda more strongly, talking about what Labour is doing in government to deliver the change the country expects and needs, and showing whose side we are on. I will get to work on this straight away.
I said I would be a full time Deputy Leader, building the Party and getting our politics into the conversation. I will draw on the broad strength of our movement, working day in day out from day one, campaigning with you, on the hugely important elections we have across England, Scotland and Wales next year.
We all know we’re facing tough political challenges at the moment, but I’m determined to help re-unite our voters and the country around our progressive values, talking about what we think is really wrong with the country – how it doesn’t work for ordinary people and how we are fixing it.
I will make sure we tell that story more strongly and that the public hear it.
I pay tribute to Bridget Phillipson, who is a great Education Secretary. Bridget will have my support and I look forward to working together with her to tackle child poverty, and improve life chances.
We all want our Labour Government to succeed – we need it to. I will play my part alongside our Leader, Keir Starmer, helping our Government to reach back into our communities and workplaces to listen and act.
From stronger employment rights, to better protections for renters, to giving 3 million workers a pay rise, to setting up Great British Energy, free breakfast clubs and school meals and bringing rail and buses back into public ownership, we are rewriting the country in the interests of the many, not the few.
Through my ‘Lucy Listens’ events, I heard from you about how you want to be more involved in the discussions and debates, and for your experiences to be heard. Our broad movement is our strength and it is my job now to make sure you feel included, valued and energised. That’s what I’ll do.
James, as the Prime Minister said at Conference, we are in a fight for the soul of our nation.
I’m proud to serve as Labour’s Deputy Leader at such a critical moment for our movement and our country.
With thanks,
Lucy Powell
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party