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Starmer faces perilous 24 hours as Streeting preparing for leadership bid
TL;DR
Keir Starmer faces a critical 24 hours as Wes Streeting prepares for a potential leadership bid if the prime minister's position deteriorates. Following poor local election results, around 40 Labour MPs have called for Starmer to resign or set an exit date.
Key points
- Keir Starmer faces a critical 24 hours.
- Wes Streeting is preparing for a leadership bid.
- Labour lost support in recent local elections.
- About 40 Labour MPs demand Starmer's resignation.
- Streeting's supporters believe he has fighting spirit.
Mentioned in this story
Keir StarmerWes StreetingLabour
Keir Starmer is facing a perilous 24 hours as allies of Wes Streeting said he was prepared to bid for the leadership if the prime minister’s premiership falls apart this week.
Starmer was hoping to save his job with a speech that sets out his vision for turning the country around on Monday, after a disastrous set of local election results in which the party lost support to Reform UK and the Greens.
However, his chances of staying in No 10 appeared to be diminishing on Sunday as about 40 Labour MPs called for him to quit or name an exit date.
One ally of Streeting told the Guardian: “Wes isn’t going to challenge Keir but he is preparing in case it all falls apart.”
Streeting is understood to have delivered this same message to No 10 last week but he will not be the first to make a move against the prime minister. The health secretary’s supporters believe he has demonstrated fighting spirit after his local Redbridge council was retained by Labour.
Catherine West, a Labour backbencher, has already said she will challenge the prime minister for the leadership on Monday if he does not set out a timetable to resign. She would need 80 supporters among Labour MPs and allies of Streeting said they had nothing to do with her plan.
However, backers of Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, have been trying to persuade West to withdraw her bid as it would not leave him enough time to enter parliament.
West’s move is widely seen as benefiting Streeting, whose allies believe he has enough support to enter a race, and contenders from the soft left in parliament, including Angela Rayner or Ed Miliband.
Supporters of Rayner say she is not set on being the candidate but is also prepared for the possibility of launching a leadership bid.
Some on the left have been urging Ed Miliband to be their candidate as an alternative, believing Rayner does not have enough support in the country and given that the HMRC inquiry into Rayner’s tax affairs is not yet settled.
Q&A
What are the reasons behind Keir Starmer's leadership crisis?
Keir Starmer's leadership crisis stems from disappointing local election results and increasing pressure from around 40 Labour MPs demanding his resignation or an exit timeline.
Who is Wes Streeting and what is his role in the Labour Party?
Wes Streeting is the health secretary and a key figure in the Labour Party, currently preparing for a potential leadership bid should Keir Starmer's position weaken.
What did Keir Starmer plan to address in his upcoming speech?
Keir Starmer aimed to outline his vision for revitalizing the country in a speech following the party's recent electoral setbacks.
How many Labour MPs are calling for Starmer to resign?
Approximately 40 Labour MPs have called for Keir Starmer to either resign or specify a timeline for his departure.
