Will Starmer resign over Mandelson-Epstein scandal and who could replace him?
Sir Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life amid anger over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
The Prime Minister has been at the center of a political storm after admitting he was aware of his former peer’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein even after he was convicted of child sex crimes.
Figures across the political spectrum, including MPs in his own party, questioned the prime minister’s decision, with some declaring it “over” for Starmer.
The outrage follows months of speculation about Sir Keir’s leadership of the Labor Party, with senior figures appearing to position themselves as his successor.
The clock has been ticking for a while now for a prime minister who has seen his appalling poll numbers worsen during his 16 months in power.
A single candidate is enough to gather 20 percent of MPs against him, and the prime minister is in serious trouble.
So who could this person be and could he unite a warring side?
Angela Rayner
Despite resigning less than six months ago over personal tax payments, the former deputy prime minister’s replacement for Sir Keir is now being openly discussed.
Angela Rayner raised eyebrows when she stood in the House of Commons on Wednesday and made clear she would vote against the government on releasing all review documents into Mandelson’s appointment.
Ms Rayner, the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, is seen as a potential successor to Sir Keir or, if she is not running herself, as someone whose support could have a significant impact on the outcome of any contest.
Many in the unions were eagerly waiting for him to get the top job and were planning his return even days after his resignation. It is believed he was preparing for a competition last week, saying “I’m not dead yet.”
Earlier this week the prime minister suggested Ms Rayner had a “future role” in the government and said he wanted to bring her back to the front line “at the right point”.
Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham has been the most talked about threat to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership in recent months, and speculation about a potential challenge has increased since mid-2025.
Over the past year, Mr Burnham has repeatedly failed to reject Labour’s leadership bid and has regularly been put forward as the leading candidate to take over should Sir Keir’s position as prime minister become untenable.
He was the focus of such rumors when he announced at the Labor Party conference in September that MPs were calling on him to challenge Sir Keir.
Tensions came to a head earlier this month when the north-west parliamentary seat became up for grabs following the resignation of Gorton and Denton MP Andrew Gwynne.
The mayor of Greater Manchester applied to run under the Labor Party banner in the historically safe seat but was blocked by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Critics have accused Sir Keir and his allies of blocking Mr Burnham’s candidacy for factional reasons, fearing a leadership challenge from the mayor as both Labour’s poll ratings and personal approval ratings falter.
Wes Street
There is widespread speculation that supporters of health secretary Wes Streeting will launch a bid to replace Sir Keir after months of uncertainty and woes in the polls.
But speculation is not new; The health minister is thought to have been talked about for years as a possible leadership candidate.
There has been a briefing war in Downing Street in recent months, targeting the health secretary over his desire to replace Sir Keir as prime minister.
Earlier this month, it was also reported that senior figures were pushing for him to be removed from the Cabinet for disloyalty, as divisions in the prime minister’s senior team deepened.
Mr Streeting has previously expressed concern about the government’s direction and spoke of a “toxic culture” at No 10 when the briefing against him was made public in November.
The 42-year-old health minister is charismatic and the only cabinet minister who can connect with the public unless junior doctors are on strike.
The former National Union of Students’ main weakness is that he is seen as far to the right of the party, but he remains a more charismatic version of Starmer who is less wary of comparisons with the Conservatives.
Shabana Mahmood
Another candidate put forward for the top job is the home secretary, who was actually backed by former prime minister Tony Blair last year.
Amid earlier speculation that Sir Keir Starmer might be forced to resign as prime minister, Shabana Mahmood has emerged as a frontrunner to replace him.
Their biggest problem seems to be Mr. Streeting. Like him, she is seen as being on the right of the party, and it is unlikely that either will run.
Ed Miliband
The left is looking for a candidate, and there’s a good chance they’ll turn to someone who’s tried to be a leader before.
The 55-year-old is seen as a hate figure in the right-wing press for his net zero policies, but this is only seen as a plus for party members.
Miliband, who looks a bit like former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, has found a new life and purpose after leadership. He is now the herald of green energy and net zero when the world needs it.
The cowardly and diminished man who defeated the party in 2015 is gone; He was replaced by a man who was a serious candidate to lead the party again with new vigor.
