Panic for Keir Starmer as No 10 desperately tries to save PM from plot to oust him | Politics | News
Sir Keir Starmer’s No 10 allies have launched a campaign to save the prime minister’s job amid fears he could be sacked following a tax hike budget or election defeats next May. Downing Street has been plunged into panic over the response to tax rises later this month, although they have not yet been formally announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
And Labor fear losses in Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections. He could also lose control of Birmingham, England’s largest local authority, in local elections. There is particular concern in Downing Street that Health Secretary Wes Streeting is prepared to take over the leadership if Sir Keir is forced to resign, but Mr Streeting has steadfastly denied being part of any plot.
The Prime Minister’s allies argue that sacking him would be a “reckless” and “dangerous” move that would damage the public finances and increase the cost of borrowing, as well as damage the UK’s relations with allies such as the US.
But the briefing from Number 10 sparked an angry response. A Labor source within the government said: “No 10 went into full bunker mode and attacked its most loyal Cabinet members for no reason.”
Highlighting previous attacks on former deputy leader Angela Rayner, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Deputy Leader Lucy Powell, the source said: “Unfortunately there is a pattern of Keir’s team briefing against their own people; they did it to Angela, Lisa, Lucy, now it’s Wes’ turn. A circular firing squad is not going to help the Government out of the hole we’re in.”
The turmoil at Number 10 was revealed by The Guardian; The report stated that Sir Keir’s allies have warned that he will not go quietly and will re-enter any leadership contest. That’s what former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn did in 2016 when Labor MPs managed to hold a new leadership election in a bid to get rid of him. The MP for Islington North stood in that election and won.
While No 10 is focused on Mr Streeting, the operation to support the Prime Minister’s position is designed to fend off potential rivals, which could include Ms Rayner, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Environment Minister Ed Miliband, formerly Labor leader.
An ally of the Prime Minister told The Guardian: “Keir is not going to step aside for Wes or anyone else at this point.
“The idea that if someone says the budget isn’t doing well they’re going to walk away is ridiculous,” another added. They said he was determined to fight for change for the country despite many challenges.
“We are facing a difficult situation in the PLP” [Parliamentary Labour Party]. We know things are a little hot and everyone is anxious. But the consequences of the leadership struggle will be huge and people need to remember that,” the first senior ally said.
“If you throw a leadership challenge at the government in just 18 months, you will destabilize the markets and our allies, and I don’t think the public will forgive us. The impact would be very serious. MPs need to think about the reality of what that challenge means now.”
And they warned: “The party will not recover for another generation.”
But another source said the Prime Minister did not understand that his own MPs had lost confidence in him.
They said: “Keir doesn’t realize this is an existential situation for him. But it’s surprising that MPs think sacking him might be a solution; the public will think we’re no different from the previous batch.”
A spokesman for Mr Streeting said: “Wes’s focus has been entirely on reducing waiting lists for the first time in 15 years, recruiting 2,500 more GPs and rebuilding the NHS that saved his life.”
The spokesman said any suggestion that Mr Streeting was plotting against the Prime Minister was “categorically untrue”.
