Labour facing obliteration as leaked polling data spells end for Starmer | Politics | News

Labour’s senior figures are privately preparing for disastrous local election results on May 7 that could trigger a leadership crisis for Sir Keir Starmer, despite public displays of unity and the Prime Minister’s determination to continue the fight. Health Minister Wes Streeting appealed for public patience this week, telling The Guardian he did not want to see the Prime Minister challenged. Mr Streeting said: “I don’t want to see Keir challenged in May. I don’t think it will happen. Give the man a chance.”

But tensions are rising behind the scenes. It has been reported that one of Mr Streeting’s allies mistakenly sent a WhatsApp message to Sir Keir’s speechwriter Alan Lockey, asking if he would help with a potential Streeting leadership campaign. Times. The sender was embarrassed, but the incident raised suspicions in Downing Street that loyalty protests may be weaker than they appear. Mr Streeting’s team deny any infidelity.

In London, the threat is existential. Labor has directed resources to defend central boroughs such as Camden, Hackney and Lambeth against the Green wave. A bad night in the capital was potentially “existential” for the party, a minister has said. Estimates show heavy losses as the Reformation spread to northern areas and the Greens advance in urban areas.

The cost of living crisis, exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East, further increases pessimism. Economists predict inflation will rise to 4 per cent and energy bills could rise by as much as £300 this summer. As oil prices rise to 150 pence per litre, fears of fuel shortages linked to the Strait of Hormuz are also growing.

Next week the Government will announce frozen rail fares and pension increases, but ministers fear they will be overshadowed by economic turmoil. Opponents are already maneuvering. Angela Rayner has warned Labor is “running out of time” and launches a podcast called Beyond the Bubble.

To further complicate any difficulties, the King’s Speech is scheduled for May 13. This means Parliament will be adjourned when the results are announced, making it difficult to collect the 80 signatures needed to launch a contest. Sir Keir insisted he would not resign. Sir Keir said: “The road ahead will be bumpy but for the most part I’m keeping my frustrations under wraps.”

Even loyalists admit that the premiership has entered its most dangerous phase. The coming weeks will test whether Sir Keir’s “good fight” can outweigh the mounting economic and electoral storm.

Sir Keir himself appears increasingly optimistic about surviving the immediate threat. Allies see his handling of the Iran conflict, particularly his refusal to join the first U.S. strike and his firm stand against pressure from President Trump, as a potential lifeline.

A YouGov poll for The Times found 30 per cent of voters had the most confidence in Sir Keir to deal with the conflict; Nigel Farage had 22 per cent and Kemi Badenoch 19 per cent. The proportion of voters who believe he should resign fell to 42 per cent, while a fifth said his approach to the war had improved their view of him.

Sir Keir’s “Hugh Grant” moment in which he declared he would not bow to Mr Trump’s personal jokes was well received by Labor MPs. Sir Keir said: “I am the British Prime Minister and my job is to focus strictly on the national interest.”

However, the Prime Minister’s situation is still unclear. Leaked internal MRP survey paints an apocalyptic picture for May 7. Labor is expected to lose every one of the 50 seats in Sunderland, which includes Bridget Phillipson’s constituency, to Reform UK. Nigel Farage said: “The election is a referendum on Starmer.”