Cabinet ministers have warned mutinous Labour MPs that any attempt to oust Sir Keir Starmer after this week's local election results would unleash chaos for the party that would not be easily overcome. Several ministers told the Guardian that despite the prime minister's determination to remain in Downing Street, the mood on the backbenches was febrile and events could spiral out of control.
Labour is expected to lose more than 1,500 council seats across England, struggle for second place in Scotland, and face the prospect of losing Wales after a century of dominance. This has left thousands of local politicians angry, seeing themselves as victims of the government's unpopularity. Some MPs have argued that Sir Keir should set out a timetable for his departure, with Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting, and Andy Burnham being seen as likely successors, though Burnham is not currently eligible.
However, the appetite inside the cabinet for a leadership contest appears severely limited. One minister said, 'We have a role to play and we'll certainly not want chaos. That's not in anybody's interests.' Another indicated there was no group in the cabinet planning a collective move, while a third said they would not be part of any plot or pact, adding that only Sir Keir would decide when he stood down.
Several ministers warned of the danger of unintended consequences, with one noting that 'when the mood is febrile things can kick off.' Another said, 'We wouldn't be thanked for picking our own leader three years out from the next election. It's just that it's premature.' Neither Rayner nor Streeting are thought likely to move first, and allies suggest they would only enter a contest if triggered by someone else. Rayner still has to resolve her tax affairs.
Downing Street has made clear that Sir Keir would fight any attempt to oust him, with allies saying potential rivals should think carefully about the instability a challenge would cause, particularly amid conflict and economic headwinds. They also played down the prospect of a reshuffle, suggesting one would only occur if ministers resigned after the results.
Writing in the Observer, Sir Keir said: '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 contrasted this with the previous government's descent into infighting during the Covid pandemic.
