The media gathered in Downing Street before a cabinet meeting chaired by Keir Starmer on Tuesday, capturing a moment of intense political scrutiny. An analysis reveals that Starmer's survival strategy is under question as he faces growing calls for resignation.
Starmer's Political Operation Under Fire
Unlike previous leadership challenges, Starmer's cabinet has remained largely silent as MPs demand his resignation. Four ministers have resigned, intensifying pressure on the prime minister. Some MPs express frustration at the lack of a coordinated response from Downing Street, with one stating, "How could they not plan for this, it's mad." Another added there was "literally no guidance or plan."
Shift in Political Dynamics
Starmer's political operation has changed since the departure of his long-term aide Morgan McSweeney, who resigned as chief of staff in February. McSweeney, who previously led crisis responses, remains close to Starmer but is not providing advice to No 10. The new team, led by Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson, successfully managed a previous challenge from Anas Sarwar, but Cuthbertson is now on maternity leave, leaving a gap in coordination.
Stuart Ingham and Sophie Nazemi have stepped in, but officials admit they have missed Cuthbertson's connections across the Labour party. Downing Street has employed similar tactics as before, including phone calls and defiant public messages, but with less impact.
Economic Warnings and Internal Dynamics
Some government figures have warned of dire economic consequences if Starmer is ousted, including a spike in bond yields akin to the Liz Truss mini-budget crisis. However, they are cautious not to directly pressure MPs. The absence of MPs in Westminster after local elections has hindered both coordination of Starmer's defence and collaboration among opponents.
On Tuesday, over 100 Labour MPs signed a letter insisting, "This is no time for a leadership contest," coordinated by backbenchers and whips. Starmer himself dared critics to trigger a leadership contest, stating, "The Labour party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered." He then moved the conversation to the Middle East, avoiding direct confrontation.
Mixed Cabinet Support
While some cabinet ministers issued supportive statements after the meeting, others, including Wes Streeting, Ed Miliband, and Yvette Cooper, remained silent. This contrasts sharply with February, when all ministers publicly declared support. Starmer's allies are cautiously hopeful but uncertain about the future, with one saying, "I don't know what happens next. It might be that Andy or Wes backs down... or one of them succeeds."
