Labour Leadership Contest Begins Amid Starmer Pressure
As Prime Minister Keir Starmer fights for his political survival, the race to succeed him has already commenced behind the scenes. The revelation that a website promoting Angela Rayner as the next Labour leader briefly went live in January has fuelled intense speculation about the timing of Starmer's potential departure and the identity of his successor.
Sarwar's Call for Change Intensifies Pressure
Starmer was already under significant pressure when Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar publicly called for a change of prime minister on Monday. Sarwar's intervention followed the high-profile resignations of Morgan McSweeney, Starmer's chief of staff, and Tim Allan, his communications director, from Downing Street. These developments have created a perfect storm of political uncertainty within the Labour Party.
Rayner and Streeting Allies Trade Accusations
As the phoney war has gathered momentum in recent weeks, supporters of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting have been openly criticising each other. Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, told the BBC on Sunday that "anyone that has any association with Peter Mandelson should be nowhere near government," in what appeared to be a direct swipe at Streeting's connections to the former Labour politician.
Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour MP for Tooting, added to the criticism on the same programme, suggesting that "there are people in cabinet who need to question their own positions, because they were very close to people like Peter Mandelson."
Streeting's allies have retaliated by accusing Rayner's supporters of attempting to divert attention from her own political difficulties. Tax authorities are still investigating whether the former deputy prime minister underpaid stamp duty when purchasing a flat in Hove last year. One Streeting ally commented: "The truth is Wes wasn't very close to Mandelson, their relationship has been wildly overwritten."
Leadership Ambitions Surface Despite Denials
Despite Streeting insisting on Monday that "Keir Starmer doesn't need to resign" and urging people to "give Keir a chance," the absence of a formal vacancy has not prevented allies of potential candidates from promoting their preferred contenders.
Friends of Rayner have informed reporters that she is "ready" to run should Starmer step down. One senior Labour figure recently told the Guardian: "Angela says she took the scars for Jeremy Corbyn, she took the scars for Keir Starmer, and so the next time she takes the scars it will be for herself."
The Sunday Times quoted a Rayner friend as saying MPs who were "frothing at the mouth" at the chance to install Streeting as leader were "mad because he has been damaged by association with Mandy [Mandelson]."
Broader Field of Potential Candidates Emerges
Rayner and Streeting are not the only figures being discussed in Westminster corridors. Some on the soft left of the party, who would normally support Rayner, express concerns about polling that shows she ranks among the least popular Labour figures with the general public.
One source suggested: "A lot of her friends, people who know her well and love her, just think she is fundamentally unelectable." This has led to speculation about alternative candidates including Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, or Defence Secretary John Healey.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has not abandoned hope of returning to the Commons, though his path was blocked in the Gorton and Denton byelection. However, any leadership contest in the immediate future would exclude him since the party leader must be a sitting MP.
Miliband's Ambitions and Mahmood's Challenges
Those close to Miliband maintain he does not wish to lead the party again after losing the 2015 election, though the Sun on Sunday quoted a Labour source claiming: "Ed is preparing to run again. He has told people, despite what he says when he is interviewed."
Some party members believe Shabana Mahmood, who combines conservative social views with left-wing economic positions, would make the best successor. However, her standing among Labour members has suffered due to the tough stance she has adopted on immigration as home secretary.
Despair Over Current Options and Dark Horse Candidates
Some within Labour despair at the current options from the party's senior ranks and are looking toward more junior members of the 2024 intake. One unlikely candidate being promoted by some is Al Carns, a former Royal Marines officer who has attracted admirers both inside and outside the party.
One political expert recently noted: "Carns understands about building a team and could do certain things that most MPs couldn't do." Unfortunately for Carns, that endorsement came from Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's former chief of staff, whose association may prove more damaging than helpful in Labour circles.
The Labour Party now faces a period of intense internal scrutiny as these leadership manoeuvres unfold against a backdrop of declining public confidence in the current administration.
