Labour is on the brink of open civil war, with The Telegraph revealing that Wes Streeting already has the numbers to move against Sir Keir Starmer, and could act within days.
According to the report, the Health Secretary has secured backing from more than 81 Labour MPs, the critical threshold required under party rules to trigger a leadership contest. With Labour holding 403 MPs, that 20 per cent mark is the gateway to removing a sitting leader, and Streeting has quietly crossed it.
Incredibly, Starmer’s team only became fully aware of the scale of the threat after a Downing Street staffer was accidentally sent details of Streeting’s operation, including his “five pillars” and a full “plan for government”. What had been rumour suddenly became real.
Now, attention turns to timing. Some of Streeting’s allies are pushing for a dramatic move as early as next Friday, immediately after local elections expected to be disastrous for Labour. Around 5,000 council seats are being contested across England, alongside elections in Scotland and Wales, and senior figures are bracing for what one insider bluntly described as “carnage”.
That source warned Labour could lose in areas it has never previously lost, including parts of London, while being “destroyed” across the Midlands and the North. Once those traditional power bases turn, they said, Starmer’s position could collapse rapidly.
Streeting has options. He could formally launch a leadership bid, or resign from the Cabinet in a calculated attempt to trigger a chain reaction that forces Starmer out. Either route would plunge Labour into a full-scale crisis.
But the wider field is far from settled. Angela Rayner is reportedly undecided about running, while holding talks with Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband about a possible soft-Left alliance. Burnham himself is not currently an MP, making him ineligible, though allies claim he has identified seats where MPs could step aside to allow his return to Westminster within weeks. His camp is already talking up sweeping plans for a “radical rewiring” of the state and a decade-long economic strategy.
Despite this manoeuvring, Streeting may have a narrow window of opportunity. Moving early could catch rivals off guard before their campaigns are ready. However, there is also risk, history suggests that those who bring down party leaders do not always inherit the crown.
Meanwhile, Starmer faces pressure from all sides. A recent Commons vote saw 67 Labour MPs either rebel or abstain over an investigation into whether he misled Parliament, a sign of how fragile his authority has become.
Inside Downing Street, there is no clear plan. Some advisers are urging a Cabinet reshuffle to buy time, with suggestions that Ed Miliband could replace Rachel Reeves as Chancellor and Angela Rayner take over as Home Secretary. Others warn that any reshuffle would simply deepen divisions, arguing Starmer no longer has the authority to move colleagues without backlash.
There is even speculation that Starmer could attempt to manage his own exit, possibly announcing a timetable to step down after the party conference in September. But many MPs appear unwilling to wait, particularly if the local elections confirm their worst fears.
Polling data will only intensify the anxiety. Head-to-head figures suggest Starmer is vulnerable to certain rivals. Andy Burnham, for example, is shown leading him by 53 per cent to 37 per cent among Labour supporters, while Angela Rayner also comes out ahead, 48 per cent to 37 per cent. By contrast, Starmer performs better against figures like Streeting himself, beating him 42 per cent to 30 per cent, highlighting the uncertainty around who could actually replace him.
If events continue on their current trajectory, Labour could soon find itself in an extraordinary position, fighting not just for power, but over who should lead it into government. And, as The Telegraph makes clear, that battle may begin within days.
