Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged that Labour faces a “challenge” in Thursday’s local elections across England, Wales and Scotland, amid reports that backbench MPs are already plotting to oust him over fears of heavy losses for the party.
Cost-of-living crisis dominates voter concerns
Speaking at a Labour campaign rally in south London on Tuesday, Sir Keir said the majority of people care about the cost-of-living crisis when casting their ballot. He insisted the Government would aim to fulfil its “duty” to protect the public from rising costs caused by the war in the Middle East.
“We know that whatever is going on in the world, whatever is going on in politics, the thing that people care about, are most concerned about, is the cost of living,” he said. “So it’s really important that we as a Government keep our focus on the cost of living, and in particular just at the moment, make sure that although we’re not going to get drawn into the war in Iran – I’ve been really clear about that – but we have a duty, and we must protect the British public from the impact of that, and that’s what I’ll continue doing.”
Reports of leadership letter
According to reports, some Labour backbenchers are drafting a letter blaming Sir Keir for the expected loss of hundreds of council seats across England and calling on him to set a date for his resignation. The move would echo the drafting of a round-robin letter by normally loyal Labour MPs in 2006 that contributed to Tony Blair announcing he would step down within 12 months.
At the campaign event, Sir Keir was asked how he could convince voters to support his party amid a slump in opinion polls. He replied: “As you can see, we’ve got a fantastic Labour team working every single day in London and across the country, campaigning with fantastic councillors and candidates and with a very positive message. Of course, it’s going to be a challenge, but it is really important we go in fighting for every vote, which has to be earned, in relation to this.”
Allies urge unity
Communities Secretary Steve Reed, one of Sir Keir’s strongest allies, warned Labour MPs against “doomscrolling” through leaders even if the party suffers heavy losses. He said he was not aware of plans for the letter and that MPs were “sick and tired of all this psychodrama”.
“It’s absolute nonsense to suggest Labour would copy the Conservatives and go doomscrolling through leaders,” Mr Reed told Times Radio. “I’m not going to engage in it and most of our MPs would not engage in that either.”
Potential leadership contenders
Reports of backbench plans to move against Sir Keir after the local elections come amid rumblings of a potential leadership tilt by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, or Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Allies of Ms Rayner are confident she would be able to gain the support of the 81 MPs required to launch a challenge – a number which Mr Streeting is also said to have met, though neither is said to want to be the first to move. Mr Burnham has been tipped as a party favourite to succeed the Prime Minister but would face several logistical obstacles before returning to Westminster should he seek to mount a bid for No 10.
Starmer warns against infighting
Writing in The Observer at the weekend, Sir Keir urged his party not to repeat the Conservative Party mistake of “descending into political infighting”.
“We have a choice. We could sink into the politics of grievance and division. Or we could rise to this moment – together – in a national effort that matches the scale of the threats and turbulence we face,” he wrote. “When the nation rallied together to deal with Covid, the last government could have channelled that spirit to build a better nation. But instead, they descended into political infighting and let the country slump back to the old status quo. Not this time.”
