Coffee House Shots Labour's deputy divisions: insider vs outsider?
Oct 1, 2025
Tim Shipman, a seasoned political journalist known for his insights on UK politics, joins Claire Ainsley from the Progressive Policy Institute to dissect Labour's recent conference. They delve into the dynamic between deputy leadership candidates Lucy Powell and Bridget Phillipson, exploring the insider versus outsider narrative. Discussion highlights include Starmer's connecting with modern voters and the perception of Labour as the party of the professional middle class. Their analysis reveals underlying tensions and the implications for Labour's future appeal.
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Starmer Found A Clearer Narrative
- Keir Starmer delivered his clearest narrative yet, leaving conference attendees more optimistic than when they arrived.
- Tim Shipman says the speech clarified who Starmer is for and against, improving party mood despite polling worries.
Reconnecting Through Personal Narrative
- Keir's conference rhetoric aimed to reconnect with modern working-class experience through personal stories about family.
- Claire Ainsley argues this shows Starmer and his team intentionally root Labour in everyday working-class concerns.
Deputy Race: Inside Versus Outside
- The deputy contest reads as an inside-versus-outside struggle rather than a pure left-right fight.
- Tim Shipman frames Bridget Philipson as the leader's chosen insider and Lucy Powell as the outsider rallying grassroots scrutiny.