Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is confronting a simmering rebellion within his own Cabinet, with senior colleagues openly speculated to be plotting his downfall. The political crisis has been ignited by Labour's catastrophic slide in the opinion polls, where the party now trails in fourth place behind Nigel Farage's Reform UK, the Conservatives, and the Green Party.
The Suspects in Plain Sight
Health Secretary Wes Streeting is viewed as the most prominent potential challenger, an accusation he has vigorously denied. Drawing parallels to the BBC's 'The Traitors', observers note that such forceful protests of innocence are often a hallmark of the game's secret schemers. Streeting's ambition is no secret; eight years ago on a comedy show, he predicted he would be Prime Minister within a decade.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is carefully cultivating support on the Labour Left. She is reportedly weighing up a direct bid for the leadership or aligning herself with Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is himself planning a return to the Commons.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is also building a significant following, seen both as a contender in her own right and as a potential deputy to a candidate like Streeting.
The Hidden 'Secret Traitors' Within
Beyond the obvious suspects, Westminster insiders point to a growing cadre of overlooked and resentful ministers who could play a decisive role. The focus has turned to figures like Jonny Reynolds, the Government Chief Whip. Once the high-flying Business and Trade Secretary, Reynolds was moved to his current lower-profile role in September's reshuffle and is said to be unhappy.
"It hasn't worked," said one Labour MP. "Jonny's not a natural for that job and he clearly isn't enjoying it." While not seen as a challenger himself, Reynolds's potential endorsement could be crucial for any rival candidate.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle, despite being a known Starmer ally, is viewed by some on the Left as a moderate who would fully back a Streeting leadership bid. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is also being watched, despite his insistence he does not want the top job again.
A Race Against the Election Calendar
The pressure is mounting with a timeline centred on the May local elections. There is a growing expectation at Westminster that any challenge must be launched before these votes to mitigate Labour's anticipated heavy losses. Some Scottish Labour MPs have privately urged Streeting to move now to help the party in the Holyrood elections.
However, modernisers warn of the risks. They point to the recent Unison union election, where left-wing candidate Andrea Egan defeated the incumbent, an ally of Starmer. This serves as a stark warning that triggering a contest does not guarantee the desired outcome.
Downing Street has dismissed reports of a 'secret traitor' hunt. A government source said: "We are focused on tackling the issues that matter to people including the cost of living." Peter Kyle laughed off the speculation, with a source joking it was so crazy it "might make Celia Imrie fart again" – a reference to an incident on Celebrity Traitors.
The ultimate fear for Starmer's allies is articulated by one Labour insider: "The end for Sir Keir will likely come when someone he doesn't suspect makes a treacherous move." With the party languishing in the polls, the whispers in Westminster are growing louder.
