Ed’s Deputy Chief of Staff Lucy Powell steps down

After being selected as Labour’s candidate for the upcoming Manchester Central by-election last week, Ed Miliband’s Deputy Chief of Staff Lucy Powell has today stood down from her role, and from the party’s Executive Board.

A Labour source told LabourList this morning that Powell had taken the decision herself in order to focus on her campaign in Manchester, where she will be seeking to retain the large Labour majority left by outgoing MP (and PLP chair) Tony Lloyd.

As yet there has been no indication as to whether Miliband will hire a replacement Deputy Chief of Staff, or whether the role (created for Powell) will be abolished, but this is one of a number of significant changes at the top of the party in recent weeks, following the appointment of Tim Livesay as Chief of Staff, the move to the new HQ at Brewer’s Green and the appointment of the 7 Executive Directors.

Recent interviews with Miliband have stressed the need for further change within the party – especially with regard to the party being “rooted in community” as he told Prospect this morning. With that in mind, we  can expect to see further changes announced in the coming weeks and months.