Labor-affiliated organizations prepare to select a candidate for the race to become Deputy of the Labour party
The race for the Labour Party's deputy leader position is heating up, with two prominent candidates, Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell, vying for the spot. The deadline for nominations from affiliated unions and local party branches is fast approaching on September 27.
Bridget Phillipson, the current education secretary, is seen as the government's preferred candidate. She has been gathering support from unions, including the Community and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, although the specific support from unions such as Unison, GMB, and Unite remains undecided.
Phillipson has positioned herself as the candidate who can 'unite' the party after a challenging first year in power. She has spoken about her working-class roots in Sunderland and her political ascension, including her successful campaign to secure a second term for Labour by taking on Nigel Farage's Reform party.
On the other hand, Lucy Powell, who was recently sacked as Commons leader, is a candidate for MPs who are unhappy with the party's direction. She has pitched herself as the 'shop steward' of the parliamentary party, ready to deliver criticism to the prime minister if necessary.
Recent polling by Survation suggests that Powell is ahead with members, with 47%, compared to 30% for her rival. However, some union sources feel that while Phillipson is the 'better candidate,' there is a temptation to vote for Powell to express dissatisfaction with the government.
Unite, Labour's biggest supporter, may have limited involvement and interest in the race due to a focus on industrial disputes. This leaves the question of which unions will back the successor for the Labour Party deputy leader unanswered.
Some unions feel that this contest is not a hugely impactful moment and may not make a meaningful difference in the long term. However, the Labour Party's annual conference, which begins the day after the deadline, will provide an opportunity for the candidates who have secured the required backing to make their pitches directly to members in a final hustings.
There are concerns among union leaders about the tight timetable for the contest, making it harder for them to mobilize behind a candidate. Two Labour-affiliated unions, Unison and GMB, will nominate their candidate for Labour's deputy leader on September 25.
In a statement at the Trades Union Congress in Brighton, Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, stated that she will be looking at a candidate's track record of backing workers when deciding who to support. Both candidates have expressed their commitment to supporting workers' rights and addressing the issues facing the working class.
As the deadline approaches, the race for the Labour Party's deputy leader position is shaping up to be a close contest, with both candidates making their case to the party's members and unions. The outcome of the contest could have significant implications for the direction of the Labour Party in the coming years.
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