Downing Street has been plunged into chaos this week as Keir Starmer and his team appear to have mounted a leadership challenge against themselves, in what commentators describe as an act of self-harm on an unimaginable scale. The bizarre turn of events began late on Tuesday night when a story published by the Guardian claimed Cabinet members were plotting to oust the prime minister, naming Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband as key figures.
The story suggested a coup was imminent, possibly after the budget, but that Starmer was ready to fight back. However, it quickly emerged that the plot was a paranoid fantasy, with no evidence of any organised campaign against the leader. Political analysts noted that while Streeting and Mahmood may have leadership ambitions, neither has a team primed to act.
The episode has backfired badly for Starmer, turning his leadership into a live issue. Backbenchers who had not previously discussed replacing him are now doing so, and the public is left bewildered by the infighting. Critics compared the situation to Liz Truss's ill-fated premiership, noting that even she did not attempt to remove herself from power within 18 months.
To make matters worse, No 10 chose to launch its attacks on the evening before Streeting was due to do the morning media round. Streeting handled the situation with grace and humour, deflecting questions about his leadership ambitions and emerging stronger than before. At Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer appeared distracted, with observers noting his lack of political instincts had led him into a crisis of his own making.
