A Labour figure calls on party to avoid dismiss upcoming May elections viewing them as certain defeats

Labour should not “write off” the May electoral contests anticipating heavy defeats, but use the upcoming fiscal plan as a way to seize back voters’ attention, Lucy Powell has said amid the contest for deputy leadership reached its concluding phase.

With voting among party members under way, her rival, Powell’s rival for the post, said upon victory she would set up an official framework to reflect the views of members and unions directly to government leaders on a regular basis.

Removed from her cabinet post in last month’s reshuffle after the departure of Angela Rayner and has become the favourite to win on an outsider platform, promising to present tough truths to the party leadership when necessary.

Speaking after a series of events with members, Powell expressed there was concern about the possible impact on the party of the elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments and councils across England in May, where significant setbacks are forecast, including losses to Reform UK.

Previously Commons leader before the reshuffle, said she was “not prepared to write off these crucial electoral contests” as inevitable midterm pushback, advocating for an ambitious fiscal plan as a countermeasure.

“It’s unacceptable to lose capable Labour representatives and councils through external factors, due to national-level errors,” she said. “We need to reset the agenda preventing communities from awakening to Reform-controlled councils post-election in May.”

November’s budget should be “a moment to draw a line under our past mistakes, and show the country whose side we are on”, Powell said, proposing it removes the two-child limit on benefits and make sure fairer distribution of tax responsibilities.

During a BBC interview, Phillipson, the education secretary, suggested she expects the restriction would be abolished.

“I am confident that we as a government will act appropriately by children growing up in poverty across the nation,” she said. “We’ve initiated this effort. There’s more to do. I will make that happen.”

Phillipson contended in her capacity as minister she could make sure members’ concerns were heard directly at the top of government. Through an additional commitment, her campaign stated she would formally solicit views from members and trade unions quarterly for presentation at high levels.

She said: “The Labour party draws its strength from its members. Thus I aim to provide them a stronger voice in how the government delivers its agenda, creating channels for communicating movement priorities.

“Only under my deputy leadership will members have their voices heard distinctly at the cabinet table.”

Electronic voting among party members commenced recently and will run until 23 October, with the result announced two days later.