LUCY POWELL: 'I'm not afraid to have difficult conversations when Labour needs to change course'

I joined the Labour Party at 15, growing up in the North under Thatcher. I saw the difference political decisions make - in those days for the worst.

After 14 more years of the Tories again, I couldn’t have been prouder of getting a Labour government last year. But I know that people have been exasperated because of some mistakes we’ve made, and delivering change can sometimes be slow.

Labour is at its best when we are clear about whose side we are on, and in whose interests we serve, when our values shine through.

Flagship pieces of legislation that I helped introduce show this - employment rights strengthened, water bosses bonuses banned, GB Energy established, rail back into public ownership.

I really want this government to succeed, but despite our early achievements, this Labour story hasn’t been heard loud enough. Our country is fractured and divided. We’ve got to do better. Our communities need this Labour government to succeed. The stakes are too high.

We’ve got to give a greater sense of who we’re fighting for. Who we serve. Why we are taking the decisions we are. That’s the way we will rebuild our support, unite people and the country as Labour governments have always done.

I won’t snipe from the sidelines, but I’m not afraid to have difficult conversations when we need to change course.

For example, we should be really clear on our mission to tackle child poverty. That means setting out a much stronger sense that we support the policies and principles which we know can do that, like lifting the two-child benefits cap. Free school meals and breakfast clubs we proudly introduced will transform lives and show Labour values in action.

It's the Chancellor and the Prime Minister who write the Budget, that’s not the Deputy Leader’s job, but I want us to be clear that our objective is to lift children out of poverty and that will mean we need to lift the cap. Gordon Brown has set out ways of raising money from gambling firms which should get careful consideration. We all want to change the country in the interests of the many, not just the few. Let’s stand proudly for that.

As a full-time Deputy Leader I would ensure all voices are heard. I would be that much-needed bridge between the leadership, our membership, unions, elected representatives and the communities we serve.

I would be a strong independent choice for Deputy Leader, championing our movement and government, telling a better story about the Britain we want to build.

READ MORE: Join our Mirror politics WhatsApp group to get the latest updates from Westminster