Downing Street has launched an extraordinary operation to protect Sir Keir Starmer amid fears among the prime minister’s closest allies that he is vulnerable to a leadership challenge after the budget or following defeat in the May local elections. Senior political aides warned that any attempt to oust the prime minister over tanking poll ratings would be a “reckless” and “dangerous” move that could destabilise markets, international relationships and the Labour Party.
They insisted that Starmer would fight to retain the leadership in any contest that followed a challenge. A bitter row broke out after No 10 sources said they had grown increasingly concerned over speculation among MPs that Health Secretary Wes Streeting could be planning an imminent coup – a move fiercely denied by Streeting. In a sign of anxiety, senior figures said they had been told that Streeting had 50 frontbenchers willing to stand down if the budget landed badly and the prime minister did not go.
Cabinet ministers told the Guardian that Streeting was just one of several Labour figures “on manoeuvres” for the leadership should a vacancy arise, but that none were likely to move against Starmer now. They interpreted the Downing Street intervention as a “stop Wes” strategy designed to warn off putative rivals, including Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband. “No 10 has gone into full bunker mode, turning on their most loyal cabinet members for absolutely no reason,” one source said.
Several close allies of the prime minister said any move to oust him would be “reckless” and that Starmer would fight any leadership contest. “Keir will not stand aside at this point, for Wes or anybody else,” one said. Another added: “The idea he’d walk away if somebody said the budget hadn’t landed well is nonsense.” They warned that a challenge just 18 months into government would destabilise markets, allies and the public. “No Labour prime minister has ever been forced out by their own MPs. To do so at this point would be the height of irresponsibility,” one ally said.
A third Downing Street source said: “Keir doesn’t realise this is existential for him. But it’s astonishing that MPs think that ousting him might be an answer – the public will just think we’re no different from the last lot.” Cabinet ministers believe Downing Street is firing a warning shot to any Labour politicians considering a move.
