Labour's New Deputy Leader Pushes for a Stronger Left

The UK's Labour Party has a new deputy leader, Lucy Powell. She won the vote against Bridget Phillipson, but only 17% of members showed up to vote. Powell wants the party to focus more on its left-wing values instead of trying to appeal to voters who like right-wing ideas. Powell believes Labour should not try to compete with right-wing parties on issues like immigration. Instead, she thinks the party should build a broad support base around its traditional values, like reducing inequality. She said this in her victory speech after winning the vote. Recently, Labour lost a seat in the Welsh parliament to Plaid Cymru, a left-leaning party. They also came in third place behind Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which focuses on cutting immigration. This shows that Labour might be losing some of its support. Powell was recently fired from her job as a government minister. Some think it might be because she told the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, that planned welfare cuts were not popular with the party. Now, she wants the party to change its culture and be more open to listening to members and lawmakers. Powell will not be the deputy prime minister. That role went to David Lammy, the justice minister. Powell has promised to be a strong, independent voice in the party. Starmer welcomed her election and said the recent loss in Wales shows the need for visible improvements.