Keir Starmer’s allies continue to insist he would contest any challenge, but a tumultuous week has left the prime minister looking vulnerable and short of time. Despite no official challenger, many Labour MPs view him as an interim leader.
Week of Leadership Jostling
In a BBC interview on Friday, housing secretary Steve Reed interrupted questions about moves to remove Starmer, stating, “There is no contest. People need 81 nominations to stand against the prime minister.” However, the reality is stark: Starmer has shed so much authority that many MPs see him as a placeholder until a successor is arranged.
After Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary but edged away from a leadership challenge, Andy Burnham is seen as the successor apparent. However, the Greater Manchester mayor must first win a byelection in Makerfield, a constituency where Reform UK is bullish and the Greens are campaigning hard.
Internal Battles Resurface
Starmer’s allies insist he will fight on, with one official saying, “Why are we even doing this? You can’t go around saying the PM has to leave. It’s wildly irresponsible.” The week began with Labour MP Catherine West emailing colleagues to ask Starmer to step down, sparking a phoney war among various camps.
On Monday, junior frontbenchers resigned, and by Tuesday, Jess Phillips quit. Wednesday saw Downing Street dare Streeting into a formal challenge, but he lacked the 81 MPs needed. On Thursday, Streeting released a damning resignation letter calling for a broad leadership contest.
Later that day, Labour MP Josh Simons agreed to stand down in Burnham’s favour, and Downing Street indicated the party’s national executive committee would not block Burnham from standing in a byelection. Burnham supporters see a clear path: he would be selected, use his strong personal brand to overcome Reform, return to the Commons, and challenge Starmer immediately.
However, hurdles remain. If Burnham loses the byelection to Reform, his ambitions would be shattered. Even if he enters parliament, Starmer’s allies insist he would contest any challenge and call on the Labour membership to stick with stability. This approach has seen off Streeting, with one supporter noting, “He got 40 MPs. It’s embarrassing.”
Starmer faces constraints, including poor communication skills and low approval ratings. While there are signs of greater boldness, such as condemning a far-right march, allies accept he may eventually have to face that the game is up. One cabinet ally said, “If he can’t win the election, he’d ensure an orderly transition. But he’s not there yet.”
