Efforts by allies of Prime Minister Keir Starmer to shore up his position have backfired spectacularly, exposing the weakness of his leadership. A botched briefing operation on Tuesday night, which involved accusing Health Secretary Wes Streeting of leading a plot to overthrow Starmer, has instead convinced many Labour MPs that Starmer is leading an ineffectual No 10 operation heading for electoral defeat next May.
The situation worsened on Friday when Downing Street abandoned plans to increase income tax in the budget, a move seen by some in government as a panicked attempt to protect Starmer's position. One minister said MPs from various factions, including many once loyal, now believe Starmer is finished and are prepared to take coordinated risks to install a more talented alternative.
However, the parliamentary Labour party remains divided on a successor. The two most commonly cited candidates are Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Streeting has long been favoured by No 10, but some senior figures believe Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney has cooled on him and now prefers Mahmood. Mahmood's allies deny any alliance with McSweeney, insisting she is running a below-the-radar campaign.
Streeting has recently moved leftwards, speaking in favour of recognising Palestine and calling for Angela Rayner's return to government. Rayner, who resigned as deputy leader in September over tax affairs, is seen as a potential candidate if a contest occurs after May. While her supporters deny she is running, one MP said she is 'desperate to be back in the fort'.
MPs believe a speedy contest would benefit the right of the party, with fears that Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham could return to the Commons in May, complicating the field. 'They think the clock is ticking,' one Labour MP said. 'They have all concluded that Keir is a bit fucked and if they don't move fast, someone else will get it.'
