Starmer faces ‘stalking horse’ challenger as ministers fear Angela Rayner coup

A Labor MP has dramatically warned potential leaders in the Cabinet to challenge Sir Keir Starmer by Monday – or will – following the party’s disastrous local election results.

Hornsey MP Catherine West and Friern Barnet, who was sacked by Sir Keir as a junior minister at the Foreign Office, said the Cabinet should “reorganise themselves” and avoid a contest, putting forward their “best communicator” instead of the Prime Minister.

If that doesn’t happen, he said he will seek out the 80 names needed to trigger a contest.

His intervention came as Sir Keir recruited party favorites Gordon Brown and Baroness Harriet Harman to secure his flagging prime ministership.

As the extent of Labour’s failings at the ballot box become clear, Independent It has learned that some senior ministers are trying to block the leadership election out of fears former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner could launch a coup as early as next week.

Ms West’s move comes amid growing speculation from Labor MPs that serious candidates to replace Sir Keir, including Ms Rayner and health secretary Wes Streeting, are waiting for a “stalking horse” that will “let them in”.

In a bid to win back the party faithful, the prime minister appointed Mr Brown, once described by Tony Blair as a “big puncher”, as his special envoy for global finance and appointed former deputy leader Baroness Harman as his adviser on women and girls.

Sir Keir posed with them both on the steps of Downing Street, ignoring questions about his future.

But an attempt to bring the cabinet into action behind his back on Friday night backfired when some senior figures remained silent.

These included health minister Wes Streeting, who refrained from backing Sir Keir’s advance as his team described how he had bucked the trend that had disastrous consequences for Labor.

Labor remained on Redbridge Council, including considering the threat from pro-Gaza independents in the Ilford North seat.

One ally claimed Mr Streeting was “waiting for another candidate to come first before entering the fray”.

Others who did not openly support the Prime Minister were home secretary Shabana Mahmood, energy minister Ed Miliband, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, all of whom have been identified as possible leadership candidates.

Defense Minister Al Carns, a former Royal Marines commander who has growing support among Labor MPs, also specifically refrained from offering his support.

An ally of Mr Carns added: “Al’s problem is that if he jumps he is seen as a stalking horse. Wes [Streeting] and the others want him to leave so that they too can come in.”

Pressure has been mounting on the prime minister, with at least eight Labor MPs publicly demanding he set a timetable for Sir Keir’s departure, while in a more private setting he said he could not take them through the next election.

The last person to speak was Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash, who has seen Reformation sweep his district. He said: “I prefer the party conference [in September]but setting the timeline is a critical thing.

Someone else told me Independent “It’s not just MPs on the left who want him gone.”

One of his former loyalists added: “As you can imagine the mood in general is terrible. I’m not saying anything publicly at the moment but clearly we can’t have an election with his leader.”

A second minister added: “Our current fear is that Angela will become our version of Liz Truss.”

A source close to Ms Rayner denied speculation that she could make an offer as early as next week.

But hopes of making Mr Burnham an MP as a “unifying figure” to lead the party have united ministers with left-wing rebels.

There was speculation that MPs were told they would be eligible if they stood aside for Mr Burnham.

But one MP warned: “Given what has just happened, I’m not sure where Andy Burnham would stand and win a seat, even if someone were willing to resign to give him the opportunity.”

Labour’s disastrous performance saw Reform win most of the council seats in the north-west of England, including all 22 seats in Wigan and 16 of 17 seats in the Tameside Council district, which includes Ms Rayner’s constituency.

Sir Keir continued his fight, admitting the party needed to do more to convince voters in a video posted on social media on Saturday.

He said: “It’s important that we think about and respond to these consequences; we haven’t done enough to offer people hope for the future.”

With plans to give a major speech on Monday, he added: “I will chart the path ahead in the coming days.”

But Labor MPs speculated he was now “too weak to make changes” to reset his government.

There were suggestions that he might try to replace the chancellor and sack Rachel Reeves, or even sack Mr Streeting for business maneuvering.

He said of Mr Brown’s appointment: “As Britain’s longest-serving chancellor, Gordon is well placed to work with our international allies to build a stronger Britain and improve our country’s security and resilience.”

Along with Baroness Harman, he added: “Harriet is a strong advocate for women and girls and I know she will deliver more opportunities for women in public life.

“I am committed to tackling the structural misogyny that hinders so many women and girls. I look forward to working with Harriet to take action on this important issue.”

Meanwhile, Sir Keir also had to welcome the new Welsh Labor leader after Baroness Eluned Morgan was forced to resign when she lost her seat in the Senedd election.

He said: “We thank Ken Skates for stepping in to provide leadership to Labor and the Senedd in Wales as we begin a period of necessary reflection and restructuring.

“Ken is a talented and experienced MS and I know he will do a fantastic job bringing together Welsh Labor and holding the new government to account for working people.”