British premier's allies warn against leadership challenge as tensions mount in Downing Street
Downing Street trying to shore up support for Keir Starmer amid growing fears of leadership challenge, according to reports
LONDON
Downing Street has launched a major operation to shore up support for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid growing fears among his closest allies that he could face a leadership challenge following the upcoming budget.
According to several reports by British media, senior political aides to Starmer have warned that any attempt to oust him over plummeting poll ratings would be a “reckless” and “dangerous” move, potentially destabilizing financial markets, international relationships and the Labour Party itself.
They insisted that Starmer would “fight to retain the leadership” in any contest that followed a challenge, either immediately after the budget or, more plausibly, following defeat at the May local elections.
Sources inside No 10, cited by The Guardian, said the government was now in “full bunker mode” as speculation mounted among MPs that Health Secretary Wes Streeting could be planning an imminent coup — claims that he has strongly denied.
Cabinet ministers told The Guardian that Streeting was one of several senior Labour figures “on maneuvers” for the leadership should a vacancy arise, but that none were likely to move against Starmer at present.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday, Streeting dismissed the suggestion as “self-defeating nonsense,” adding that he was “not standing against the prime minister.”
Asked if he would ever consider such a move, he replied: “I cannot see circumstances under which I would do that to our prime minister.”
Streeting also said the prime minister should sack the aide responsible for briefing against him, adding that there was a “toxic culture” in Downing Street that “needed to change.”
Labour is widely expected to perform poorly in next May’s local elections, but some within the party argue it cannot wait until then to consider a change of leadership.
In October, the party recorded its lowest-ever level of support in a YouGov poll, falling to just 17% — the same as the Conservatives.
The poll showed the far-right Reform UK leading with 27%, while the Green Party rose to 16% and the Liberal Democrats to 15%.
