Defiant Starmer to pledge sweeping changes as Rayner issues ‘last chance’ ultimatum

Keir Starmer will defy his Labor critics and claim he is best placed to “face big challenges for this country” as he delivers a career-defining speech to save his premiership on Monday morning.

The prime minister’s speech followed a dramatic ultimatum from former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, who warned her government must take a hard left turn if it wants to stay in Downing Street.

As speculation grows that he is ready to launch a leadership challenge, the former deputy prime minister warned Sir Keir: “What we are doing is not working and needs to change. This may be our last chance.”

It comes as Labor MPs believe former minister Catherine West is closing in on the 81 MPs she will need to mount a chase horse leadership challenge.

While leadership rivals are making the rounds, Health Secretary Wes Streeting is also believed to be ready to launch a bid with MPs monitoring the campaigns of energy minister Ed Miliband and defense secretary Al Carns.

But in a defiant speech in central London, Sir Keir will use the Brexit rollback as the centerpiece of a final desperate reset to save his premiership.

The speech came against the backdrop of last week’s historically poor election results; More than 40 Labor MPs are now publicly calling for him to resign, and many more privately say he cannot carry them through to the next election.

The beleaguered prime minister will vow to “face the huge challenges” facing the country, while admitting “incremental change is not going to cut it”.

He will admit: “We need a bigger response than we expected in 2024 on growth, defence, Europe, energy, because these are not ordinary times.

“The strength that comes from fairness. That’s one of Labour’s core arguments. And you’ll see those values ​​spelled out in capital letters in the King’s Speech. And you’ll see the hope, the urgency, and exactly whose side we’re on.”

He will add: “People need hope. We will face big challenges and put forward big arguments.

“It’s the Labor case that only Labor values ​​and Labor policies can ensure that our country not only weathers these storms but emerges stronger and fairer.”

Addressing fears that Nigel Farage could become prime minister if he remains Labor leader, he will say Mr Farage and the Conservatives are “defined by breaking our relationship with Europe”.

He will add: “This Labor government will be defined by rebuilding our relationships and putting Britain at the heart of Europe so we are stronger on economy, trade, defence, you name it.”

“Because standing shoulder to shoulder with the countries that most share our interests, our values ​​and our enemies is the right choice for Britain, it is Labour’s choice.”

But his chances may depend on convincing Labor MPs to give him one last chance.

While Ms West has not yet formally requested the nomination and has made clear she will wait for the prime minister to speak “or last”, it is understood nearly 70 of her colleagues are already set to back her to ensure a contest takes place.

Former home secretary Lord David Blunkett warned Times Radio: “I think either Keir is doing his best and there is a huge transformation in our public relations. Or he and [his wife] Victoria will have to talk about the best way to do this appropriately and someone else will take over. “The jury is well and truly out.”

MPs reacted angrily after Sir Keir gave an interview at the weekend and suggested he wanted to be prime minister for a decade.

Meanwhile Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, warned: “The Labor Party is in danger of extinction.”

In her ultimatum to the prime minister, Ms Rayner warned: “We are in danger of becoming the party of the wealthy, not the party of the working people.”

And he lashed out at the prime minister, saying: “The Peter Mandelson scandal showed a toxic culture of nepotism. Decisions such as cutting the winter fuel allowance were not what people expected from a Labor government.”

Putting forward a left-wing agenda, he called for greater intervention in reducing household bills, increased planning reforms, more community ownership and bringing private companies into public ownership.

He criticized Sir Keir for blocking Andy Burnham from returning to parliament and, in an implied threat to the leadership, added: “The Prime Minister must now seize the moment and deliver the change our country needs.”

The fallout from last week’s disastrous results, which saw Labor decimated in Wales, its worst result in Scotland and losing 1,500 council seats in England, has raised fears on the party’s left that Mr Streeting is planning a coronation to replace Sir Keir.

A source close to Mr Streeting denied telling Sir Keir he was ready to become prime minister but confirmed the health secretary, who did not endorse the prime minister on Friday, was not planning any intervention until Thursday, when new NHS data is due to be published.

Meanwhile, a member of the 2024 Labor MP recruitment confirmed that a leadership team had been formed for Mr Carns.

They said: “Why are we once again turning to the same familiar faces to solve the problems they were involved in creating? If we want to demonstrate real change to the public, we need a new face to lead that change. Members of the 2024 intake are still hopeful of persuading Al Carns to run in the event of a contest, and support for this view appears to be growing.”