Lucy Powell speaks to the media after being elected as the new Labour Party deputy leader.

The words must really have stuck in Keir Starmer’s throat.

“I’m delighted to start working with Lucy as our new deputy leader,” said the prime minister just moments after it was confirmed that Lucy Powell had beaten Bridget Phillipson at the end of an at-times bitter contest.

“Lucy has always been a proud defender of Labour values, and that is exactly what we need at this moment,” Starmer added.

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 sacked her as Commons leader.

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.

It is ironic, therefore, that those same qualities enabled her to gain her revenge on the........

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