Senior Labour figures have warned Prime Minister Keir Starmer to stop making mistakes, as the party braces for a deputy leadership contest and concerns grow over potential backtracking on workers' rights. Emily Thornberry, a potential candidate to replace Angela Rayner, publicly criticised Starmer, saying further errors could lead to 'handing our country to [Nigel] Farage'.
Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, called for a 'reset' and a more pluralistic style, urging the government to listen to 'the heartbeat of the party'. Burnham, seen as a future leadership contender, cannot run for deputy but endorsed either Louise Haigh or Lucy Powell, both former cabinet ministers sacked by Starmer.
Union leaders advised Starmer against watering down Rayner's employment rights bill, still progressing through parliament. Justin Madders, removed as employment minister in the reshuffle, said it would be 'really, really foolish' to row back on key manifesto commitments. Downing Street insisted the legislation would proceed, despite business pressure to weaken protections against unfair dismissal.
Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary, urged the prime minister to implement the bill 'in full', while Unite's Sharon Graham warned: 'If they don't become a workers’ government, the workers will seek other answers.' Starmer's first reshuffled cabinet meeting on Tuesday will focus solely on economic growth.
No 10 is braced for a deputy leadership contest where candidates may criticise Starmer's first year, as Nigel Farage's Reform party rises in polls. The reshuffle, promoting ministers seen as right-leaning, has caused anxiety among Labour MPs. One senior source described it as 'groupthink', warning it would reinforce rather than solve problems.
Thornberry told the BBC: 'Domestically, things just don’t seem to be working... We can’t afford to keep doing this, because we’ve gone from having the fantastic gift... of a huge majority to now being at 20% in the polls.' Burnham echoed the need for greater inclusivity, saying Labour must be 'less factional and more inclusive'.
