As Prime Minister Keir Starmer fights for his political future, the contest to succeed him has already begun. The revelation that a website promoting a leadership campaign for Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner briefly went live last month has intensified speculation about Starmer's potential departure and possible successors.
Allies of Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting have been trading barbs. Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, criticised Streeting's association with former Labour figure Peter Mandelson. Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan suggested some cabinet members should question their positions due to closeness to Mandelson. Streeting's allies counter that Rayner's friends are trying to distract from her own tax issues regarding a flat purchase in Hove.
Streeting stated he is not pushing for Starmer's resignation, saying, "Give Keir a chance." However, supporters of potential candidates are already touting their credentials. Friends of Rayner say she is "ready" to run if Starmer steps down, with one senior Labour figure noting she has taken scars for others and will now do so for herself. A Rayner ally described MPs backing Streeting as "mad" due to his Mandelson connection.
Streeting's allies accuse Rayner's camp of worsening party divides. One said the party is tired of the "toxic briefing culture" and does not want something nastier. Other potential candidates include Lucy Powell, Ed Miliband, John Healey, and Shabana Mahmood. Some on the soft left worry Rayner is "fundamentally unelectable" based on polls. Andy Burnham remains interested but cannot stand as he is not an MP. Miliband's allies say he does not want to lead again, though a source claimed he is preparing to run.
