Ed Miliband emerging as top contender to replace Starmer

Ed Miliband is “preparing for his coronation” to replace Sir Keir Starmer after local elections in May, Labor sources say. Independent.

After another terrible week for the prime minister, which has seen his integrity come under increased scrutiny due to the Peter Mandelson scandal, many MPs believe the end of his leadership is near and the energy minister has emerged as a new candidate to replace him.

Mr Miliband has repeatedly denied the leadership claim, but Mandelson has become increasingly outspoken about the review crisis and speculation is rife that he is preparing to throw his hat in the ring with next month’s local elections expected to be “apocalyptic” for Labor and put more pressure on Sir Keir to resign.

A supporter of Mr Miliband said: Independent: “He has energy and enthusiasm. He is loved by the younger members of the party. He is a new man since the last time he was leader.”

It is crucial that Mr Miliband does not face the same hurdles that could prevent some rival leadership candidates, including Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, former deputy chancellor Angela Rayner and health secretary Wes Streeting, from making successful bids to replace Sir Keir.

Mr Burnham’s supporters want to delay the leadership contest until he becomes an MP and stands for election, while Ms Rayner is still awaiting the outcome of an HMRC investigation into her failure to pay stamp duty on a flat in Brighton.

Meanwhile, Mr Streeting, who appeared in court with his parliamentary supporters on Tuesday after the sacking of Foreign Office official Sir Olly Robbins, is not thought to have enough support from the party to take the job, the bombshell evidence further damaging the prime minister.

Mr Miliband, who served as Labor leader from 2010 to 2015, is among a handful of cabinet ministers believed to be performing well in their current roles, and briefings for him to take over have soared after he became the first senior minister to break ranks and collective responsibility on Lord Mandelson’s appointment.

He publicly rejected Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US, suggesting that both he and deputy prime minister David Lammy, who was foreign secretary at the time of the appointment, had raised concerns.

Mr Miliband told Sky News: “You say: [Mandelson] He should never have been appointed and I agree with you. “When I became Labor leader in 2010, I kept my distance from Peter Mandelson.”

Asked what he thought of Lord Mandelson’s first appointment, he said: “It could blow up, it could go wrong. I spoke to David Lammy about it before the appointment and said I was worried about it. I think he was worried about it too.”

A Labor MP said: “There seems to be some sort of understanding between Miliband and Lammy.”

On suspicion that Mr Miliband might enter the leadership race, one minister noted: “He put his arms around me yesterday to ask how I was. He was always friendly but never this much.”

Another MP added: “I think he’s hoping for the coronation because the others aren’t up to the challenge.”

A spokesman for Mr Miliband denied this and said: “I refer you to his previous comments.”

He previously said: “Because I was the leader of the Labor Party, I had the inoculation technique done against me wanting to be the leader of the Labor Party, and it was a very successful inoculation.”

But with Labor MPs deeply divided over who will take over, any hope of him being installed as leader unopposed seems unlikely.

A senior Labor MP said: “I think the reality is that there is no viable alternative to Starmer at the moment. Wes is a protégé of Mandelson and Angela is bringing a lot of controversy of her own.”

“We have one chance to change the leader. It has to be someone who offers a real break from both the scandals and disastrous policy decisions that have defined this government.”

Others are less convinced about Mr Miliband’s future, partly because of his previous leadership spell that led to a humiliating election defeat against David Cameron in 2015.

One MP said: “I’m in the ‘Please God, not Ed’ camp.”

Others, particularly the Socialist Campaign Group of left-wing MPs, want to support Mr Burnham.

Meanwhile, support is growing for defense minister and former Royal Marines commander Al Carns to be a surprise “clean break” candidate for the top job.

As support grows for Mr Carns, who won support to run in the last deputy leadership election before being told by the leadership not to run, MPs are looking for possible candidates among the 2024 candidates.

A Labor MP said: “Frankly, I am prepared to skip the current party and head for Al Carns.

“Frankly, he’s the only person who can bring people together and lead them. Also, if the public wants someone who isn’t a politician, then he’s the only option we have. I think he’d be great.”

While Reform UK sources acknowledged Mr Carns was the most problematic candidate for them, they said they would “like” to take on Mr Miliband, particularly on net zero.

Sir Keir is set to hold an emergency summit at Checkers this weekend with the rest of his loyal ministers.

But Labor MPs agree there is “no chance” of a coup before local elections on May 7 due to parliament being adjourned on Tuesday.

Parliament will not reconvene for the King’s speech until 13 May, which will be the first opportunity to take action against the King.

One minister said: “I expect him to limp until after May. After that, I don’t know.”