The candidates on PR: what we know so far
The first stage of the Deputy Leadership contest has come to an end - and just two candidates remain in the race: Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell.
We've contacted both asking them to confirm or update their positions on electoral reform - and we hope to hear back from them soon.
In the meantime, we wanted to share what we already know about their views on First Past the Post and Proportional Representation.
Bridget Phillipson
The MP for Houghton and Sunderland South has not supported electoral reform in the past.
In correspondence with a constituent in 2022, via our friends at Make Votes Matter, she wrote:
"I do not support ending the use of First Past the Post to elect MPs"
More recently, in the aftermath of the May 2025 local elections, polling guru Sir John Curtice put the evident flaws of First Past the Post to Bridget Phillipson during a discussion on the BBC, noting Labour's 2022 conference vote in favour of Proportional Representation.
You can watch the exchange below...
🌹 Labour's official policy recognises that First Past the Post is "flawed" and driving "distrust & alienation" in politics ⚠️ Now, multi-party politics is colliding with a 2-party system - and inaction is becoming untenable 🎯 We need a National Commission for Electoral Reform
— Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ (@labour4pr.bsky.social) 2 May 2025 at 11:45
[image or embed]
Lucy Powell
The MP for Manchester Central has been positive about electoral reform in the past. For example, in summer 2023, she wrote to a constituent:
"I have personally always supported a more proportional voting system which retains the constituency link"
While Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, in October 2023, she commented at a Labour Conference fringe event that she is personally in favour of looking at electoral reform once in Government.
*Lucy Powell* To a constituent in 2023: 💬 "I have personally always supported a more proportional voting system which retains the constituency link" While a Minister, she said she's personally in favour of looking at electoral reform in Government 3/3
— Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ (@labour4pr.bsky.social) 11 September 2025 at 19:02
[image or embed]
What's next?
In the next stage of the contest, candidates need nominations from Constituency Labour Parties and affiliates.
Between Saturday 13 September and Saturday 27 September, the candidates need to attract the nominations of:
5% of Constituency Labour Parties; or,
Three affiliates, of which two are trade unions, making up at least 5% of the affiliate membership.
Your local CLP will be in touch about arrangements for its nomination meeting. Given the timescales, this may happen very soon.
The final stage is a one-person-one-vote ballot of the membership and affiliate membership, held under a preferential voting system.
The winner - and new Deputy Leader of the Labour Party - will be announced on Saturday 25 October.
