Labour on the brink as minister grilled on Keir Starmer’s resignation | Politics | News

A senior Labor minister has weighed in on Sir Keir Starmer’s future in Number 10 after a humiliating week for the Prime Minister. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood insisted Sir Keir should not consider stepping aside despite the turmoil at the top of the government.

It comes after a series of briefings to journalists about Sir Keir’s pledge to remain leader, which backfired spectacularly earlier this week. Ms Mahmood said the briefing war that broke out on Tuesday night was “disgraceful for everyone involved”. Health Minister Wes Streeting has been singled out as a possible challenger, with the Prime Minister’s allies insisting he is willing to fend off any challenges to his leadership.

Ms Mahmood said “no” when asked whether Sir Keir should reconsider his leadership following the debacle.

Speaking to Sky News Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, he continued: “Keir Starmer is our Prime Minister. “We won an election less than a year and a half ago when people thought we might not win an election for perhaps a generation or more.

“I don’t have time for that kind of stuff that people say or brief off the record or, frankly, Westminster gossip.”

Ms Mahmood added: “If people have something to say they should have the courage to put their beliefs out there and say it publicly, but that’s not what’s happening.

“I think what happened earlier this week, with all these anonymous briefings, was very uneducational and extremely embarrassing for everyone involved.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Labor was “fighting like rats in a sack”.

Mr Streeting has denied planning a leadership coup against Sir Keir.

The Prime Minister apologized to Mr Street after the briefings and said he was “assured” they were not coming from Downing Street, contrary to reports.

It comes as the Government grapples with its own Labor MPs, who are concerned about ministers’ approach to many issues and the party’s current choices.

Labor is weakening behind both the Conservatives and Reform England.