Keir Starmer has been urged to sack Ed Miliband for plotting against him, as allies of the Prime Minister accuse the Energy Secretary of coordinating efforts to force him out of Number 10. Miliband is said to be privately canvassing support to succeed Starmer as prime minister, despite publicly ruling out a leadership bid.
Allegations of destabilisation
Allies of Sir Keir claim that Miliband has been encouraging other ministers to tell the PM to quit and urging MPs to speak out against him. An insider said: 'Ed has behaved disgracefully throughout. He has been pushing people to go to the PM and tell him it's time to go.'
Miliband has not denied reports that he warned Starmer weeks ago to set out a timetable for his departure if Labour suffered a meltdown at the local elections. His protege, Miatta Fahnbulleh, was one of four ministers who resigned this week, although she insisted she had not been prompted by Miliband.
Leadership ambitions denied
Miliband has publicly ruled out running to succeed Starmer, saying his fraught experience as Labour leader has 'inoculated' him against ever wanting the job again. However, Labour MPs say he is quietly sounding out potential supporters in case a quick leadership contest is triggered, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham unable to take part.
One Labour MP loyal to Sir Keir said: 'The PM should sack Ed, even if it's the last thing he does, in the same way Boris Johnson sacked Michael Gove at the end. He has been behind a lot of the destabilising activity.'
Miliband is one of several senior Cabinet ministers who have yet to offer their public support to Sir Keir following last week's disastrous local election results. He led Labour from 2010 to a crushing defeat by David Cameron's Conservatives in 2015.
