Analysis: Lucy Powell's Election As Deputy Labour Leader Is Sweet Revenge After Being Sacked By Starmer

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/68fcd6e018000040a5e8f546.jpg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="Lucy Powell speaks to the media after being elected as the new Labour Party deputy leader." data-caption="Lucy Powell speaks to the media after being elected as the new Labour Party deputy leader." data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="Alishia Abodunde via Getty Images" />Lucy Powell speaks to the media after being elected as the new Labour Party deputy leader.</div><div class="content-list-component text"><p>The words must really have stuck in <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/keir-starmer/">Keir Starmer’s </a>throat.</p><p>“I’m delighted to start working with Lucy as our new deputy leader,” said the prime minister just moments after it was confirmed that <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lucy-powell/">Lucy Powell </a>had beaten <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/bridget-phillipson/">Bridget Phillipson</a> at the end of an at-times bitter contest.</p><p>“Lucy has always been a proud defender of <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/labour-party/">Labour</a> values, and that is exactly what we need at this moment,” Starmer added.</p><p>It was a remarkable volte-face for the PM, given he decided just seven weeks ago that he no longer needed Powell in his cabinet as he <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/keir-starmer-swings-the-axe-in-major-cabinet-reshuffle-after-rayner-resignation_uk_68bafc89e4b0acb9ffebb942">sacked her as Commons leader</a>.</p><p>The real reason for her defenestration has never been revealed, but the belief in Westminster is that she was far too willing to tell Starmer where he was going wrong.</p><p>It is ironic, therefor