Rayner settles £40k tax bill paving way to challenge Starmer for Labour leadership – latest updates

Armed Forces Minister Al Carns is reportedly planning to throw his hat in the ring if a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer is triggered.

He did not deny the allegations when asked by Sky’s Jon Craig last night if he was preparing a bid, telling him: “I’m just a humble minister.”

The chairman of the Socialist Campaign Group, a group of left-wing MPs, issued a warning to Wes Streeting this morning, saying launching a leadership bid today would “deliberately run counter” to the stance of Labor unions.

In a post on X, Richard Burgon MP wrote: “For Wes Streeting to launch a leadership bid today would be to deliberately ignore this joint statement from all Labor unions for an orderly transition.

“Dismissing our unions in this way will not help us learn lessons or stop Farage.”

Jeremy Corbyn has suggested Wes Streeting “may not have the numbers” to try to oust Sir Keir Starmer in the leadership battle.

Speaking to Sky News, the former Labor leader said “we don’t know” who Mr Streeting’s particular supporters are and that many of them could stand down if Angela Rayner decides to join any fights.

Asked whether he believed there would be a leadership contest, Mr Corbyn said: “Probably yes.”

“But who knows,” he continued. “Wes Streeting may not have the numbers. We also don’t know who privately told Streeting they would support him, and now that Angela Rayner has apparently paid off her debts to HMRC, she may decide to run too.

“It is almost mathematically impossible to have three candidates other than Starmer, it is absolutely difficult to have two because they need 81 (votes) each.

“I think some of them might say, well we’re going to go with Rayner or we’re not going to go with anyone.”

Sir Mel Stride said the prime minister portrayed himself as a “really weak” person who was “spineless and had no authority”.

The shadow chancellor told the Press Association outside Parliament: “I think it’s very bad for the country that we’re seeing all this chaos and introspection within the Labor Party.

“I think whatever happens – whether the prime minister survives or someone else takes over – unfortunately we cannot escape a few disturbing facts: First, this government has absolutely no plan for how to deal with the economy in particular, and I don’t see that changing in the future.”

He refused to say who he thought would come out ahead in a potential leadership fight, saying: “These are Labour’s own internal problems.”

Sir Mel added: “We are in a period of absolute chaos where our country is facing the biggest challenges it has faced in years: the war in the Middle East, rising oil prices, inflationary pressures and yet there is all this noise going on in government and we really need to deal with this now.

“It’s up to the prime minister to try and do that, but right now he’s shown himself to be really weak, without backbone and without authority.”

There is no formal vote of confidence procedure to remove a Labor leader.

Anyone challenging Sir Keir will instead need the support of 81 MPs – 20 per cent of the party in the House of Commons – to launch a contest.

Written nominations will need to be submitted to Labor general secretary Hollie Ridley.

In the event of a successful challenge, Sir Keir will be on the ballot as the incumbent by default and will not need to field candidates.

If Ser Keir resigned, a contest would automatically start for a new leader.

It is the responsibility of Labour’s National Executive Committee to determine the timeline for the leadership election.

He says the mischievous former deputy prime minister has an originality and charm that will appeal to voters, unlike the uncharismatic energy minister Simon Walters.

Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander said there had been “twists and turns” in Labour’s leadership “drama” but insisted there was no bid yet to oust the prime minister.

Mr Alexander said: “All the headlines are that there is a process by which a challenge to the Labor leadership could be carried out and that process has not yet been triggered.”

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme, the Scottish MP admitted “these are difficult days” for the party across the UK following last week’s poor election performance.

But he said the prime minister had made it “clear” that he accepted responsibility for the “very bad consequences”.

Mr Alexander said: “The Prime Minister has my support, I am a member of the Cabinet.

“Despite all the speculation and headlines, I think it is worth remembering the fact that even in recent days we have seen ups and downs in this drama.

“There is a process through which a challenge to the Labor leadership can be carried out and that process was not triggered this morning.”

Treasury chief secretary James Murray said he hoped Wes Streeting would still be acting as health secretary by the end of Thursday and warned against a “chaotic period of uncertainty”.

Asked if Mr Streeting was still in office, amid speculation he would resign, Mr Murray told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “He is the Health Secretary and hopefully at the end of the day he will be the Health Minister.”

Mr Murray also warned against a leadership race, saying: “I would say to all my colleagues: Take a deep breath. Take a step back.”

“Make sure we’re aware that we’re less than two years into this Parliament. Look at what we’ve done so far. Look at the benefits of the stability we’ve brought to government, make sure we don’t enter a period of chaotic uncertainty and make sure we’re focused on what people want us to do.”