Downing Street has launched an extraordinary operation to protect Sir Keir Starmer amid mounting fears among his closest allies that he is vulnerable to a leadership challenge after the budget. Sources say No 10 is in 'full bunker mode' over the threat of an attempt to oust him, either immediately after the budget or following defeat at the May local elections.
Starmer's senior political aides have warned that any bid to remove the prime minister over tanking poll ratings would be 'reckless' and 'dangerous', potentially destabilising markets, international relationships, and the Labour Party. They insisted Starmer would fight any leadership contest, rejecting speculation that he might step aside.
The trigger for the heightened tensions is gossip among MPs that Health Secretary Wes Streeting could be planning a coup. Streeting has fiercely denied this. However, cabinet ministers told the Guardian that Streeting is one of several Labour figures 'on manoeuvres' for the leadership, along with Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood, and Ed Miliband.
No 10 sources said they had been told that Streeting had 50 frontbenchers willing to resign if the budget landed badly. A source described the Downing Street intervention as a 'stop Wes' strategy designed to warn off rivals. 'A circular firing squad won't help the government out of the hole we're in,' one source said.
Starmer's allies argue that a challenge would be unprecedented and irresponsible. 'No Labour prime minister has ever been forced out by their own MPs. To do so at this point would be the height of irresponsibility,' one said. They stressed that the party must focus on delivering change to secure a second term.
