Starmer ‘facing plots to oust him’ as Labour welcomes back rebel MPs

Labor MPs are said to be plotting to oust Sir Keir Starmer, even as the Prime Minister welcomes rebel backbenchers back into his fold.

It comes amid despair over the party’s poll results and concern that the government could break Labour’s manifesto promise not to raise income tax to fill the gap in the public finances.

The warnings come less than 18 months after Labor won a historic majority, and the government now sees growing discontent among Labor supporters.

While a challenge to the Prime Minister is not thought to be imminent, some MPs, cabinet ministers and party strategists told the i newspaper that talk of Sir Keir’s future has increased in recent weeks amid ongoing turmoil in the government.

The latest warnings come after a new poll by More in Commons put Labor in third place behind the Reform and Conservative Party, down three points to 18 per cent.

The Conservatives overtook Sir Keir’s party, ahead of Labor with 19 per cent support, while Reform came out ahead with 31 per cent support.

Speaking after Sir Keir addressed a meeting of the Parliamentary Labor Party last week, a minister said he and his colleagues were “talking about who to replace him, how and when”.

Meanwhile, a Labor supporter accused the Prime Minister of denying the fragility of his position, saying: “It’s a mixture of everything. This is a clumsy reshuffle. It’s all about poll ratings.”

“Having to break the manifesto commitment to raise income tax in the budget. Peter Mandelson. There is a belief among the PLP that the Prime Minister and Downing Street do not really like or respect them. Eventually the feeling becomes mutual.”

Another told the newspaper: “There’s a question about when he’ll be replaced, and there’s another question about the process. In the last few weeks, both conversations have picked up steam again, so rather than just grumbling, people are now talking about what the process might look like and what timing might be best.”

This came despite the party returning the whip to four MPs who led the charge to rebel against the government’s plans to reform benefits, in what was seen as an attempt to boost party unity.

The sentences of Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff, Brian Leishman and Rachael Maskell were suspended in July.

They are understood to have all returned to Parliamentary Labor following talks with chief whip Jonathan Reynolds on Friday.

More than 100 Labor MPs have joined rebels who threatened to block welfare reforms led by ministers earlier this year over fears they would harm people on disability benefits.

The three MPs, other than York Central MP Ms Maskell, were first elected in last year’s election.

He told the Pennsylvania news agency after returning the whip that he was “fundamentally Labor and will always defend Labor values.”

“I am grateful for the well-deserved mending of the whip and would like to thank everyone who has been especially kind to me over the last few months,” Ms Maskell added.

The prime minister, who attended the COP30 climate summit in Brazil this week, found himself beset by a series of challenges upon his return.

Culture minister Lisa Nandy has apologized after an investigation found she had “unknowingly” breached governance rules on public appointments.

He had failed to declare that he had received a £2,900 donation from the person he had chosen to head the new football watchdog.

The Conservatives are also calling for Sir Keir to be subject to further scrutiny by the government’s ethics adviser because he also received donations from David Kogan.

Meanwhile, deputy prime minister and justice minister David Lammy has come under fire for how he handled the mistaken release of a prisoner from HMP Wandsworth in south-west London.

Algerian sex offender Brahim Kaddour-Cherif, 24, was returned to prison on Friday.

However, Mr Lammy was criticized on Prime Minister’s Questions for his decision not to address the error, even though he had been briefed on it.

To make matters worse for the government, newly elected Labor deputy leader Lucy Powell called on the government earlier this week not to increase taxes in the upcoming budget, amid speculation that the chancellor plans to increase income tax.

Ms Powell warned that breaking Labour’s manifesto pledge not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT could damage “trust in politics”.

In September, amid the fallout from Peter Mandelson’s sacking, some Labor MPs publicly warned that Sir Keir was on the verge of being sacked after his turbulent first year in office.

Britain’s ambassador to the US has been dramatically sacked following new revelations about his relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, raising serious questions about the prime minister’s decision.

Leeds East MP Richard Burgon said the prime minister needed to “change course immediately” or he would be out of office by May, and said it was “inevitable” the prime minister would have to resign if the local elections were as bad as expected.

Labor MP Clive Lewis warned Sir Keir “doesn’t look up to the job”, while Graham Stringer said Sir Keir was “dining in the last chance lounge”.