Keir Starmer has been warned that time is running out to repair his faltering leadership, with Labour MPs beginning to question whether he could face a challenge as prime minister. After a disastrous week in which Angela Rayner resigned and Peter Mandelson was sacked as ambassador to Washington, several MPs said a challenge was likely if local and Welsh elections go badly next May.
One MP said: 'Personally, I think the clock is ticking. It sometimes happens to people who are incredibly well meaning, but you can pass that tipping point and can't recover.' Another backbencher noted that despite replacing everyone at every level, 'everything keeps going the same direction', concluding that 'the PM just has terrible judgment'.
Lucy Powell, who was sacked from the cabinet and is standing to replace Rayner as deputy leader, called for a 'change of culture' in Downing Street, describing it as overly factional and error-prone. Meanwhile, Clive Lewis became the only MP to publicly call for Starmer to go, saying he had 'lost control within the first year' and 'doesn't seem up to the job'.
Allies of Starmer urged a sense of proportion, acknowledging the challenge but insisting they are aware of the need to improve. However, anger has focused on chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, blamed for a narrow, clique-based ruling faction. One minister noted: 'The one person who is the constant through every bad decision since 24 July is Morgan.'
The coming week brings further challenges, including a state visit from US President Donald Trump, who is both unpredictable and unpopular with Labour MPs. With morale low, some MPs are questioning whether Starmer can lead the party out of its current slump, with one normally loyal MP saying: 'Unless Keir has a personality transplant and majorly changes things, I don't know how he is going to improve.'
