Keir Starmer is crawling towards the ‘firebreak’ of the King’s Speech today as he struggles to survive a Labour revolt.
The PM has been hit by the resignations of four ministers – Jess Phillips, Alex Davies-Jones, Miatta Fahnbulleh and Zubir Ahmed – as his grip on power continues to loosen.
The intervention came after Cabinet members – said to include Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood – privately urged him to make a graceful exit in the wake of disastrous local elections.
But Sir Keir effectively dared his rivals to move against him this morning, telling the weekly gathering in No10: ‘The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered.
‘The country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a Cabinet.’
Wes Streeting, regarded by Sir Keir’s dwindling band of allies as being behind the coup, was present to hear the stark message.
However, Sir Keir is said to have immediately moved on to the Iran war – and then refused to speak privately with the Health Secretary afterwards.
The defiant stance leaves Mr Streeting facing a decision on whether to launch a formal challenge to the PM, which would require nominations from 81 MPs.
He has been keen not to be seen as wielding the dagger against the leader. But striking tomorrow, when the King is at Westminster for the pomp and ceremony of the State Opening, could go down very badly with the Parliamentary Labour Party and public.
One Government loyalist goaded that Mr Streeting had ‘lost his nerve’.
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner are rumoured to be readying an announcement on a ‘dream ticket’ – with allies of the Manchester Mayor claiming he has found an MP ready to step aside.
As Westminster faces the prospect of a fourth PM being kicked out in just four years today:
- The UK’s borrowing costs have jumped as markets take fright at the danger of the Government lurching to the Left;
- Rachel Reeves pulled out of an event in the City of London and Sir Keir ditched a meeting with unions as the sense of crisis mounted;
- The PM did meet apprentices on a visit in London this afternoon in a bid to show it is ‘business as usual’;
- Mr Burnham has been spotted arriving at Euston station amid rumours he will announce a path to return to the Commons;
- Concerns have been raised that the King will be embarrassed by having to deliver a State Opening speech for a ‘zombie’ PM;
- A despairing minister has admitted Labour MPs look like hypocrites after condemning the Tories over a ‘carousel of chaos’;
- A poll has showed Labour support falling back after the local elections, level-pegging with the Greens on third.
Keir Starmer met apprentices in London this afternoon as he tries to show he is getting on with ‘business as usual’
The Left is alarmed that Blairite Wes Streeting (pictured) is in pole position to take over from Sir Keir if there is an immediate contest
In a devastating letter, Jess Phillips said Sir Keir was lacking ‘fight and drive’
Housing Secretary Steve Reed looked furious as he emerged from the meeting to urge colleagues to unite behind the PM
Deputy PM David Lammy gave a cheery wave as he arrived for Cabinet with Lord Hermer today
The official readout of Cabinet did not mention the ongoing leadership carnage at all.
But that belied a bizarre session, with the PM effectively brushing away the assault on his authority.
According to one Government source: ‘Keir said in Cabinet that he won’t discuss the elections or his leadership, and that he will only speak to Cabinet ministers about that individually. Then after the meeting he refused to see Cabinet ministers individually.’
Extraordinarily Housing Secretary Steve Reed appeared to be posting on social media from inside the Cabinet room, urging people to ‘unite behind the PM’.
A few loyalist ministers spoke to waiting reporters as they exited through the famous black door – although a grim-faced Mr Streeting strode away silently.
Pat McFadden insisted nobody had challenged the PM during the meeting.
Baroness Chapman said Sir Keir was still in charge. ‘I saw a Cabinet united and focused on dealing with the issues that are confronting the British people,’ she said.
She added that Mr Streeting had spoken, but only ‘about the work that he’s doing in the Health Service’.
More than 80 MPs have now publicly called for Sir Keir’s resignation, telling him to ‘get real’ and recognise ‘it’s over’, while six ministerial aides have walked out.
Miatta Fahnbulleh became the first minister to quit. She is regarded as closely linked to Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband.
Ms Phillips, Ms Davies-Jones and health minister Zubir Ahmed are seen as allies of Mr Streeting.
Labour’s Left-wing is panicking that Blairite Mr Streeting has outmanoeuvred them and will end up with the keys to No10. They want to slow the process so Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham can get back into the Commons and be a contender.
He seems to have forged an alliance with Angela Rayner, although there is speculation she still harbours her own ambitions.
In a sign of the rising tensions, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said this morning: ‘Wes Streeting has launched a coup for fear of a democratic process and whilst candidates are blocked. Handing leadership to Mandelson’s protege is a gift to Reform.’
In her letter to the PM this afternoon, safeguarding minister Ms Phillips said ‘deeds, not words are what matter’.
‘Labour governments come around rarely is the constant refrain at the moment. It’s true they are precious. Every Labour government in my and my family’s lifetime has forged progress that changed our country and the world for the better,’ she wrote.
‘I know you care deeply, but deeds, not words are what matter. I’m not sure we are grasping this rare opportunity with the gusto that’s needed and I cannot keep waiting around for a crisis to push for faster progress.
‘Decency is vital, calm curiosity is also needed, but so too are fight and drive required. Have a row, push back, make arguments, bring people along. Standing up and being counted can’t always be workshopped. Politics is as much about feelings as policy, especially at the moment.
‘I want a Labour government to work and I will strive as I always have for its success and popularity, but I’m not seeing the change I think I, and the country expect, and so cannot continue to serve as a minister under the current leadership.’
Darren Jones, an arch-loyalist, was sent out by Downing Street to brave TV studios this morning.
However, he did not give a firm commitment to the premier staying in post.
Asked if Sir Keir would be leading Labour into the next election, Mr Jones told Sky News: ‘I’m not going to get ahead of any decision that the Prime Minister may or may not take.
‘He was very clear yesterday that he will not be walking away, as some of my colleagues have asked him to do…
‘All I would say is that the vast majority of us are focused on using the time we have in government to be able to deliver the types of change for people across the country that we’re also passionate about delivering, but that we have to work together then as a party in this new political era of five-party politics, of the rise of populist parties in our country, to be able to set the course for winning that next election.’
Victims minister Ms Davies-Jones said: ‘I have been proud to deliver some monumental changes which will help save lives and shift the dial on the conversation.
‘However, we have needed to do more and therefore it is with a very heavy heart that I feel I have no choice but to resign.
‘The scale of the electoral defeats at the Senedd Cymru and across the United Kingdom have been catastrophic.
‘The country has spoken and we must listen.’
She added: ‘I know you to be a good and honest man. But in my heart are my constituents, the victims I have had the honour of working with every day, including the Hillsborough victims and their families, and all those who demand better of us.
‘I implore you to act in the country’s interest and set out a timetable for your departure.’
The situation spiralled out of control last night as Labour factions jostled for position.
One despairing minister told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s not organised and everyone can see the timing is accidental and appalling.’
The timetable for appointing a new PM has emerged as a critical issue as Blairites and the hard Left try to get the upper hand.
The latter want a delay so Mr Burnham has a chance to win a by-election and return to the Commons – while Mr Streeting would be favourite if the contest is resolved quickly.
The crisis escalated at the weekend when backbencher Catherine West looked to put herself forward as a ‘stalking horse’ candidate to challenge the PM.
A formal contest for Labour leader can be triggered when a single candidate gets 81 nominations from MPs.
Sir Keir tried to quell the revolt in a speech yesterday, warning of ‘chaos’ if he is ousted and vowing not to ‘walk away’.
But his intervention did not satisfy the furious Labour rank and file, with numbers calling for his resignation continuing to rack up.
The views of John Healey and Ed Miliband will be crucial in deciding the next steps
Loyalist Darren Jones refused to say this morning that the PM would fight the next election
John McDonnell branded Mr Streeting ‘Mandelson’s protege’ as Labour tensions raged
Fellow Left-winger Richard Burgon said Mr Streeting was conducting a ‘palace coup’
Miatta Fahnbulleh joined the rebellion this morning, becoming the first minister to quit calling for Sir Keir to go
Rachel Reeves slipped into Downing Street ahead of the Cabinet meeting today
The decision by six ministerial aides – the others were Tom Rutland, Sally Jameson, Naushabah Khan, Melanie Ward and Gordon McKee – looked to be an initial stage of a coordinated move against the PM.
Angela Rayner yesterday called on the PM to help Mr Burnham return as an MP, after blocking him from fighting the Gorton & Denton by-election in February.
Labour sources claimed Ms Rayner has agreed a ‘dream ticket’ deal with Mr Burnham which would see her return as deputy prime minister despite an ongoing investigation into her tax affairs.
In a speech to the Communication Workers Union, Ms Rayner said Mr Burnham ‘should never have been blocked’, adding: ‘It was a mistake that the leadership of our party should put right.’
With Labour MPs divided over who should succeed Sir Keir, any contest would be highly unpredictable.
Mr Burnham is the current favourite, but he could be excluded from running if the PM is forced out in a chaotic process. Allies say he is ready to reveal that a sympathetic north-west MP is willing to step aside to open up a route back to parliament.
But any by-election would take weeks if not months. And with Reform making sweeping gains in Labour’s Red Wall, such a contest could be fraught with risk.
Angela Rayner yesterday called on the PM to help Mr Burnham return as an MP, after blocking him from fighting the Gorton & Denton by-election in February (the trio are pictured together in Manchester last month)
Mr Burnham would also have to persuade labour’s ruling National Executive Committee to allow him to stand after it blocked his last bid in February.
Kemi Badenoch said it was ‘sad to watch’ the PM ‘floundering’ and warned that replacing him with another Labour politician would make no difference.
‘It is not just Starmer,’ she said. ‘All the pretenders jostling for his job do not have the answers either, because they all believe the same things: more welfare, more state control, more borrowing, more regulation.
‘They are busy arguing over who should drive the car, but the truth is they are all heading in the wrong direction.’
