Labour minister blasts MPs over plot to oust Starmer: ‘Give heads a wobble’ | Politics | News
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has warned Keir Starmer’s leadership rivals to avoid turning Labor into a “self-indulgent debating society” after local elections.
He insisted those pushing for the Prime Minister to “reapply for his job” should “shake their heads”.
Speaking to Sky News, he added that “the public will not thank us if Labor turns into a self-indulgent debating society” in Sir Keir’s place.
Ms Alexander called on her party “not to repeat the mistakes the Conservative government made in changing prime ministers” and said people considering changing leaders “should probably shake their heads slightly right now”.
This is similar to reports suggesting Andy Burnham has plans to return to Westminster “within a few weeks” in a bid to challenge Sir Keir.
Manchester’s Labor mayor has identified several seats where MPs are prepared to stand aside, triggering a by-election that could pave the way for his return to parliament, The Guardian newspaper reports.
The paper also reported that Mr Burnham’s supporters were trying to avoid a formal leadership challenge against the Prime Minister and were hoping to start a process to have him stand down following what were expected to be disastrous results for Labor in the May 7 election.
Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reports that Health Secretary Wes Streeting is also planning to make a bid to sack the Prime Minister.
Mr Streeting has the support of more than 81 MPs in the leadership battle, according to the newspaper. This number is the minimum number required for a leadership challenge to occur.
Making his case in The Observer, Sir Keir said: “We have a choice. We can sink into the politics of grievance and division. Or we can rise to this moment – together – with a national effort appropriate to the scale of the threats and turmoil we face.”
“I am talking about a national mission to become a stronger, more resilient and more united nation that allows us to take control of our future, raise our ambitions and achieve something better.
“As the nation came together to deal with Covid, the last government could have channeled that spirit into building a better nation.
“But instead they devolved into political infighting and allowed the country to return to the status quo ante. Not this time.”
