Lucy Powell blasts 'sexist' claim of Labour deputy proxy war between Starmer and Burnham

Labour deputy leadership hopeful Lucy Powell has slammed "sexist" attempts to turn the contest into a proxy battle between Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham.

The Manchester Central MP is running against Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson in the race to succeed Angela Rayner as party deputy after she was forced to resign for underpaying stamp duty on her seaside flat.

The contest comes after a nightmare few weeks from the Prime Minister, as his promised reset fell apart with the loss of both Ms Rayner and US ambassador Peter Mandelson - triggering alarm among Labour MPs.

Some in Westminster now regard the deputy race as a battle between the PM, who is believed to back Ms Phillipson, and Mr Burnham, who has thrown his weight behind Manchester ally Ms Powell.

But Ms Powell told our sister title the Manchester Evening News: "I just think this is classic Westminster bubble. A contest between two strong women being turned into a proxy context for two men. I think it's, quite frankly, sexist.

READ MORE: Bridget Phillipson issues Labour warning as she prepares campaign launch

READ MORE: Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell to go head-to-head to replace Angela Rayner

"Woe betide anyone who wants to try and tell me that I'm subservient to some other man. I'm probably more alpha male than most men I know."

Ms Powell said Labour had made "too many unforced errors and mistakes" in Government but said she was loyal to the PM.

"It's not my intention to fill the airwaves with a running commentary on the government or to develop what looks like an alternative programme for government," she says. "That's not the role.

"But equally I don't think we should shy away from having this conversation right now because clearly there are things that aren't working."

She added: "I think we've got a really strong story to tell which sometimes gets overshadowed by some of the mistakes that we're making or because we're not really cutting through with what we're doing for our working class voters across the North."

Speculation has been swirling that MrBurnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, was laying the groundwork for a leadership bid if Mr Starmer fails. But a close ally of Mr Burnham dismissed the claims, telling The Mirror: "It's pure speculation with no substance".

Labour grandee Harriet Harman, who served temporarily as Labour leader in 2010 and 2015, also took aim at suggestions the contest was really about two men.

Writing in the Sunday Mirror today, she said: "This contest should not be a proxy fight between two men, Andy and Keir. It is between two women, both of whom are dynamic and inspiring. This time it’s not about the men. Let the best woman win!"

Ms Phillipson warned Labour today that divided parties don't win elections. Writing for The Mirror today, Ms Phillipson says: "The path to victory runs through all of our regions and nations, towns and cities, countryside and coastlines.

"But we won’t if we’re not united. Divided parties don’t win elections. We cannot afford to hand Nigel Farage and Reform a crucial advantage with elections in Scotland, Wales and local elections right around the corner."

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