Plotters have been told any attempt to overthrow Sir Keir Starmer will spook the markets. Photo / Getty Images
Plotters have been told any attempt to overthrow Sir Keir Starmer will spook the markets. Photo / Getty Images
Downing Street is insisting Sir Keir Starmer will fight any challenge to his leadership amid claims an attempt to oust him could come as soon as the Budget.
In a rare and apparently deliberate attempt by No 10 figures to shore up the British Prime Minister’s position, plotters weretold an attempted coup could spook the markets.
Starmer’s supporters have accused Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood of leadership manoeuvres.
The claims prompted a fierce briefing war on Tuesday night (UK time) as allies of the accused ministers, in turn, said No 10 was pushing “nonsense” allegations.
The decision by Downing Street to brief out the Prime Minister’s determination to stay in No 10 suggests there is real concern his position is under threat.
Starmer’s authority has been weakened by a series of mishaps including botched welfare reforms and poor handling of the Angela Rayner and Lord Mandelson scandals.
Supporters of the PM say Wes Streeting is making leadership moves. Photo / Getty Images
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham this year sparked speculation he could try to replace Starmer by refusing to rule out challenging him during interviews.
Labour has trailedReform UK in the polls since May’s local elections, and is now on 18%, compared with Nigel Farage’s party on 31%.
Soft-left MPs also fear Labour will haemorrhage more support to progressive parties after a recent surge in support for the Green Party and defeat by Plaid Cymru in a byelection.
Challenge to PM would be ‘extremely unwise’
A Downing Street source told the Telegraph: “Any attempt to bring political instability into a Government with a very stable majority would be economically and politically extremely unwise”.
On what would happen if Starmer faced a leadership challenge, the source added: “Of course he would stand in a contest if challenged. But it is all hypothetical”.
A second No 10 source claimed not to be concerned the Prime Minister would face a challenge but said he would “of course” fight any leadership election.
No sitting Labour prime minister has ever been removed by a formal leadership challenge, though Sir Tony Blair stepped aside after years of pressure from his chancellor, Gordon Brown.
According to the party’s rule book, 20% of the Labour Parliamentary Party, or 81 MPs, would need to back a rival candidate to trigger a challenge.
Starmer allies appear concerned a coup could be launched as soon as the Budget on November 26, when he is expected to break the Labour manifesto promise not to increase income tax.
Some of the Prime Minister’s supporters have accused Streeting, a Blairite, of seeking to build support from the party’s left in the event of a leadership challenge.
In recent weeks he has heaped praise on Zohran Mamdani, New York’s left-wing Mayor-elect, and defended Sir Sadiq Khan against claims by United States President Donald Trump he was trying to impose sharia law on London.
Streeting denies plotting coup
On Tuesday night, Streeting’s team denied he was plotting a leadership coup.
A spokesman for the Health Secretary said: “These claims are categorically untrue. Wes’ focus has entirely been on cutting waiting lists for the first time in 15 years, recruiting 2500 more GPs, and rebuilding the NHS that saved his life”.
A Government source critical of the Downing Street briefing operation said: “No 10 has gone into full bunker mode, turning on their most loyal Cabinet members for absolutely no reason.
“Unfortunately there is a pattern of Keir’s team briefing against his own people – they did it to Angela [Rayner], Lisa [Nandy], Lucy [Powell], now it’s Wes’ turn. A circular firing squad won’t help the Government out of the hole we’re in.”
An ally of Mahmood rejected suggestions she was plotting for the leadership, calling it “nonsense” and saying there was “clearly one big No 10 operation” under way to shore up Starmer’s position.
Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader and current Net Zero Secretary, was also mentioned in some reports as being another Cabinet minister possibly on leadership manoeuvres.
Streeting is scheduled to do a round of broadcast interviews on Wednesday morning, when he will inevitably be asked if he supports the Prime Minister.
