Overview
- Members and affiliated supporters began voting on Wednesday, with balloting due to close at noon on 23 October and the result set for 25 October.
- Survation polling for LabourList reports Lucy Powell leading among members by 57% to 26% over Bridget Phillipson as the campaign enters its voting phase.
- Powell tells members the party cannot sugarcoat recent missteps, pledges to challenge Downing Street groupthink, and argues Labour must reclaim the political agenda from opponents.
- Phillipson warns a Powell victory risks disunity that could energise rivals, touts her seat at the Cabinet table, and highlights union endorsements from GMB and Unison alongside a pledge to prioritise reducing child poverty.
- Powell, sacked in the recent reshuffle, says electing her would help avoid repeats of the benefits row, backs lifting the two‑child cap, and claims member pressure is already nudging policy, while Momentum urges a tactical vote for her over concerns about Labour’s direction.