Keir Starmer has reportedly agreed to a leftward policy shift to secure his position as Prime Minister, after facing a coordinated coup attempt from within his own Cabinet. The move came as senior ministers, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, were accused of plotting against him following the resignation of his chief aide over the Mandelson scandal.
At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Starmer thanked ministers for their support, insisting the government was 'strong and united'. However, sources suggest the Prime Minister was forced to make concessions to left-wing MPs, with Ed Miliband hinting that Starmer would now focus on the 'class divide' and ramp up spending on public services and benefits.
Miliband told the BBC that the crisis 'has got to be a moment of change' and that the government needed 'much greater clarity of purpose'. He added that the Labour Party had 'looked over the precipice' and decided against a chaotic leadership election, but many MPs still believe Starmer is doomed.
The Prime Minister faces further challenges, including the impending departure of Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald and a tough by-election in Gorton & Denton on February 26. Local elections in May are expected to be a 'bloodbath', with the party's poor polling in Scotland thought to have sparked Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar's demand for Starmer to resign.
Despite the turmoil, Starmer told the Cabinet that the whole party wanted Sarwar to become First Minister and would fight for a Labour government in Scotland. Deputy PM David Lammy appeared in high spirits, while Angela Rayner, regarded as a potential leadership contender, backed the PM to continue.
