Allies close to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer are expressing readiness to counter any leadership challenges from Labour MPs. There is growing anxiety among Starmer's supporters regarding the potential threats to his leadership, possibly emerging soon after the forthcoming Budget announcement. Critics argue that the current atmosphere in Downing Street is overly defensive, which may not be beneficial for the government.
Prominent figures being considered by Labour MPs as potential successors to Sir Keir include members within his own cabinet, such as Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Observers also suggest that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, now a backbencher, may have leadership ambitions. The prospect of Streeting's leadership challenge is met with particular skepticism by those loyal to Starmer. On a BBC Breakfast appearance, Streeting dismissed the idea of his candidacy as 'self-defeating nonsense', asserting he had no intentions to oppose the Prime Minister. He emphasized the necessity for Starmer to address negative press briefings said to target loyal associates, likening the situation to a damaging episode of betrayal.
A Labour minister assured, "He will fight this," drawing a parallel to a significant by-election loss in 2021, which almost led to Starmer's resignation as Labour leader. "This is not a Hartlepool moment," they stated, referencing the prior incident. "He's among the few leaders who've secured a general election victory for Labour. It would be a strategic blunder to challenge him now, after just over a year." Despite Starmer's reportedly low approval ratings, launching a leadership challenge remains complex. As per Labour rules, aspiring challengers require nominations from 20% of Labour MPs, currently 81 based on the party's size. Many within the Labour Party acknowledge the looming pressure from devolved elections in Scotland and Wales, alongside local elections across England next May. Some party members are increasingly worried that waiting for these elections might be too late to consider altering leadership dynamics. One senior Labour MP expressed concerns, "Asking my activist base to wait for local elections is not feasible; I risk losing all my councillors." Growing speculation over leadership challenges post-Budget continues, with a source suggesting that Wes Streeting could potentially become Prime Minister by Christmas if he makes a bold move. However, inner tensions persist as briefings against loyal cabinet members create a perceived 'circular firing squad'.