A senior Labour MP has delivered a damning verdict on Sir Keir Starmer, claiming the Prime Minister has 'lost the plot' as he faces mounting pressure over his leadership. The accusation comes as Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester, edges closer to a potential bid for Downing Street.
Starmer's Desperate Gambit
In a move seen as an attempt to shore up his position, Starmer has appointed two prominent figures from the Tony Blair era: former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former Deputy Leader Harriet Harman. Critics have dismissed them as 'relics' of a bygone age, questioning whether such appointments can revive a struggling premiership.
Burnham's Rising Stock
Andy Burnham's path to Westminster has been eased by a reported row between Chancellor Rachel Reeves and her sister, Labour MP Ellie Reeves. Sources claim the altercation, which took place at a child's birthday party, was over Ellie's potential vote to allow Burnham to return to Parliament. The Manchester mayor is now seen as a credible challenger to Starmer, with allies suggesting he is 'ready to go for it'.
Leadership Challenge Looms
Labour backbencher Catherine West has issued an ultimatum to the Cabinet, threatening to go public with a leadership coup on Monday if no action is taken against the Prime Minister. At least 33 Labour MPs have now called for Starmer's resignation or a clear timetable for his departure.
The internal turmoil follows Labour's poor performance in local elections, with the party losing ground to Reform UK and the Conservatives. Nigel Farage has declared Reform the 'largest unionist party in the country', while the SNP's John Swinney has renewed calls for a second independence referendum despite electoral setbacks.
As Starmer fights for his political survival, the coming days will be critical in determining whether he can retain control of a party increasingly divided over its future direction.
