Labour rebels have been warned that ousting Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister would trigger an early general election, as speculation over his future reaches a “fever pitch” within the party. A Government source cautioned that changing leader after this weekend’s expected poor local election results would mean a “general election next year”. Downing Street has emphasised Starmer’s “five-year mandate” from voters, arguing that a new PM pursuing different policies would breach that mandate.
With Labour on course to lose thousands of council seats in England to Reform UK on Thursday, an early election could see Reform leader Nigel Farage win Downing Street. Voters will also elect new Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, with Labour expected to lose the Senedd for the first time since its creation in 1999, while the SNP is projected to retain power in Scotland.
The i Paper spoke to more than a dozen insiders from across all wings of the party about the possibility of a leadership challenge, finding MPs unable to agree on the best course of action amid conflicting claims and counterclaims.
