With the local elections just a week away, all eyes are on Sir Keir Starmer's position as Labour leader. The polls, which will see 5,000 council seats contested, are widely seen as a judgement day for the prime minister, with the party bracing for a heavy defeat. Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer has faced relentless criticism over policy U-turns and the Peter Mandelson scandal. The elections present a prime opportunity for potential challengers within Labour to make their move.
Andy Burnham
The Greater Manchester mayor is popular among MPs, party members, and the public. Recent YouGov polling shows 34% of Britons believe he would outperform Starmer. Burnham has repeatedly refused to rule out a leadership bid and has been tipped as the leading candidate. However, as a mayor, he is not a sitting MP, which currently bars him from an official challenge. Tensions flared earlier this year when he was blocked from running for the safe seat of Gorton and Denton, a move critics called factional. Some MPs hope another seat may open up for him.
Angela Rayner
Starmer's former deputy, Rayner resigned from the cabinet last September over a stamp duty issue. Popular on the soft left, she has been named as a likely coup leader. In a clear challenge, she warned Labour is 'running out of time' to deliver change. Rumours of a joint bid with Burnham surfaced after a recent meeting. However, only 15% of voters think she would do a better job. Rayner may seek a return to cabinet rather than oust Starmer, and her tax investigation is expected to conclude soon.
Wes Streeting
The health secretary is seen as the most likely challenger from within Starmer's cabinet. A centrist and charismatic figure, Streeting has publicly criticised the government's direction and a 'toxic culture' in No 10. He controversially published communications with Lord Mandelson that criticised Starmer's policies, breaking collective responsibility. However, some factions view him as too right-wing, and only 13% of voters favour him over Starmer.
Ed Miliband
The energy secretary has emerged as an unexpected contender, over a decade after leading Labour to defeat in 2015. He has become a key advocate for green energy and is surprisingly popular among young people online. Miliband has grown critical of the government amid the Mandelson scandal, but denies eyeing a leadership bid. Polling shows only 13% of voters think he would do better than Starmer.
