Labour MP Louise Haigh has been accused of participating in discussions about overthrowing Sir Keir Starmer as party leader during a dinner at a notorious Westminster plotting spot.
Restaurant Meeting Sparks Leadership Speculation
Louise Haigh was dining at Giovanni's, the famous Italian restaurant in London's Covent Garden, when sources claim her group was overheard discussing the Prime Minister's leadership difficulties. The establishment has a long-standing reputation as a venue for political conspiracies, having previously hosted Tory rebels plotting against Rishi Sunak.
According to fellow diners, the Sheffield Heeley MP allegedly claimed she could do 'a better job' than Sir Keir during the meal, which took place just two days before her appearance on BBC1's Have I Got News For You. The timing has raised eyebrows among Westminster observers, particularly given the restaurant's history of hosting political rebellions.
Mounting Tensions Within Labour Ranks
The incident comes amid growing discontent with Sir Keir Starmer's leadership among Labour MPs. Multiple sources confirm that discussions about replacing the party leader have become widespread, with Ms Haigh emerging as a potential 'stalking horse' candidate to trigger a full-scale leadership challenge.
One senior Labour MP revealed that Ms Haigh is considered one of the few potential challengers who could secure the necessary backing of 80 fellow Labour MPs to force a formal leadership contest. This threshold represents a significant portion of the parliamentary party and indicates substantial underlying dissatisfaction.
Ms Haigh has vehemently denied making any boasts about her leadership capabilities, telling The Mail on Sunday: 'This is categorically untrue.' Her allies have similarly insisted she has no plans to challenge Starmer's leadership.
Pattern of Criticism and Growing Influence
The restaurant meeting wasn't the only recent incident highlighting tensions between Haigh and the party leadership. Just two days after her Giovanni's dinner, she used her BBC appearance to launch what observers described as a thinly veiled attack on Sir Keir for sacking her from the Transport Secretary position last year.
She contrasted her treatment with that of Chancellor Rachel Reeves, suggesting Reeves received much fairer handling over licensing issues with her family home. Ms Haigh had to resign her frontbench role after her 2014 fraud conviction became public knowledge.
Adding to her growing influence within the party, it emerged last week that Ms Haigh is taking up a key role in the Tribune group of soft-left Labour MPs. Originally formed in the 1960s, this faction aims to lead opposition against unpopular welfare cuts or other measures in the upcoming Budget.
Some senior MPs have suggested that Sir Keir would be wise to bring Ms Haigh back into government to neutralise her as a potential threat. However, judging by recent reports, such a move might do little to stem the wider plotting against the struggling party leader.
According to one account, just yards from where Sir Keir was dining in the Commons last week, a group of despairing Labour MPs met in the hallowed Smoking Room to discuss his potential replacement. One minister admitted: 'We were there until late talking about who and the how and the when to replace him.'
Other names being privately discussed as potential successors include ex-Deputy PM Angela Rayner, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Health Secretary Wes Streeting, indicating that the leadership speculation extends well beyond Ms Haigh's circle.
