Lucy Powell has accused allies of her rival Bridget Phillipson of engaging in anonymous briefing against her in Labour's deputy leadership race. The House of Commons leader told Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast that such tactics represented part of a culture that needed to end.
Powell was responding to claims in the New Statesman magazine from a Labour source suggesting she had been sacked from her Commons role for "fundamentally" losing colleagues' trust through briefing and leaking. She dismissed the allegation as "just plain wrong" and suggested some briefing had come from her opponent's team.
The deputy leadership candidate said: "We are two strong women standing in this contest. We've both got different things to bring to the job to the table. I'm not going to get into the business of smearing and briefing against Bridget at all."
Campaign tensions emerge
Powell claimed she had spoken directly to Phillipson about the issue "a little bit" and insisted some negative briefing had originated from the Education Secretary's camp. However, Phillipson told the same podcast: "I haven't spoken to her directly. I don't know if there's been any discussion between the teams."
Phillipson described the campaign as "well-fought" but highlighted what she called "one of the most vicious stories" targeting her. She referenced "entirely baseless" newspaper suggestions that she was holding back publication of equality guidance to protect her leadership bid.
The Education Secretary, who also serves as minister for women and equalities, is currently considering new guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission about single-sex spaces following a Supreme Court ruling on biological sex.
Government position at stake
Phillipson argued it would be "highly unusual" if Powell won the contest, noting her opponent sits outside the Cabinet while deputy leaders traditionally hold government positions. She said: "The way the role has been done in the past when we're in Government is that the deputy leader is at the Cabinet table, and is in Government able to get things done."
The contest was triggered after Angela Rayner stood down over a row concerning her tax affairs. Results are due to be announced on 25th October.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
