Senior Labour ministers have been urged to form a protective 'praetorian guard' around Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as his government reels from a chaotic series of policy reversals at the start of 2026.
Emotional Plea for Unity Amid Leadership Tensions
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander delivered a stark message to colleagues during what has been described as an 'emotional' political Cabinet meeting this week. She implored ministers to rally around the Prime Minister and set aside their personal ambitions, a remark widely interpreted as a veiled criticism of perceived leadership manoeuvring by figures such as Wes Streeting.
Separately, Labour's deputy leader, Lucy Powell, warned that it would be 'madness' for the party to descend into internal 'warfare' and discussions about ousting Sir Keir. She pointed to the Conservative Party's experience of having three prime ministers in quick succession as a cautionary tale that did nothing to improve their fortunes.
A Grim Start to 2026 with Major Policy Reversals
The Prime Minister has endured a difficult opening to the year, with two major U-turns compounding persistently dire opinion polls. After months championing digital ID cards as a tool to curb illegal immigration, Sir Keir bowed to a significant backlash this week, confirming the scheme would be made entirely voluntary.
In a separate climbdown, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced she is preparing a bailout package for thousands of pubs facing collapse. This follows her Budget decision to increase business rates, which threatened the viability of many establishments.
Fear of Floodgates Opening and a Critical Election Ahead
There is growing concern within the party that these policy reversals have opened the floodgates, with increasingly mutinous backbench MPs pushing against what some have labelled an 'embarrassing' and 'shameful' leadership. This perceived weakness is particularly striking given Sir Keir's triumphant entry into Downing Street just 18 months ago with one of the largest parliamentary majorities in history.
The upcoming May local elections are now viewed as a critical juncture for the Prime Minister's political survival. Details of the fraught Cabinet discussion were leaked to the New Statesman, a publication often regarded as Labour's 'bible'. A loyalist source told the magazine that Sir Keir gave a passionate and fluent summation of the party's plight, which left colleagues 'slightly taken aback'.
In an effort to quell speculation, Rachel Reeves stated earlier this week that there was 'no credible alternative' to Sir Keir as Prime Minister. However, the calls for a 'praetorian guard' indicate a deepening recognition at the highest levels that his authority is under severe strain.
