LONDON – A political showdown seems imminent as efforts to oust British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are expected to escalate into outright rebellion on Thursday. One contender is poised to declare his intention to vie for leadership, while another is preparing to join any future contest for the top position.
Supporters of Health Secretary Wes Streeting have indicated that he plans to make a significant announcement later today. He has reportedly secured enough backing from Labour Party lawmakers to challenge Starmer for both the party and government leadership.
Meanwhile, Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister, revealed on Thursday that she has resolved her tax issues, which had previously led to her resignation from the Cabinet last September. In an interview with the Guardian, Rayner urged Starmer to reconsider his stance, expressing her readiness to “play my part” in any leadership election should Streeting initiate one.
The demand for Starmer to either step down or face a leadership challenge has grown louder following the Labour Party’s significant losses in recent local and regional elections. These results have highlighted voter dissatisfaction with the current government’s sluggish pace of reform.
Starmer has affirmed his commitment to staying in power, cautioning that a leadership battle would throw the government into “chaos” at a critical time when focus should be directed toward pressing issues such as the cost of living crisis and the Middle East conflict.
According to Labour Party rules, any contender for the prime minister’s role must have the support of at least 81 of the party’s 403 MPs in the House of Commons. Notably, more than this threshold have recently urged Starmer to resign.
Streeting comes from the moderate wing of the left-leaning Labour Party, as does Starmer. Rayner is a favorite of many more leftwing voters, calling on the party to do more to boost the minimum wage and raise taxes on the rich.
But other potential candidates may enter any race for the leadership.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been widely discussed as a potential candidate, though he would have to find a way back into Parliament before he could run. Allies have suggested a sitting member of the House of Commons could resign to make way for Burnham to run in a special election.
Burnham canceled his regular Thursday appearance on a local BBC radio program this week to “prioritize discussions arising from last week’s elections.”
