Just a fortnight ago, whispers of a Labour coup sounded faint. Now, after a week that swung from political farce to economic tragedy, the race to replace Sir Keir Starmer is exploding — and it’s getting messy.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has suddenly surged ahead of the so-called ‘drab four’ — Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood, and Ed Miliband — after a bungled attempt to brief against him backfired spectacularly. The plot thickens as Labour MPs panic over Rachel Reeves’ chaotic Budget plans and the fallout from her humiliating U-turn on income tax.
The pressure is mounting. MPs are calling for the removal of No 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, warning: “Either Morgan goes, or the Prime Minister does.” Starmer is reportedly out of touch with the anger brewing among his own party.
Streeting’s team sees an opportunity: push for an early leadership challenge before Rayner recovers and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, a public favorite, figures out how to re-enter Parliament. Time is ticking, and the battle lines are forming.
Inside No 10, alliances are shifting fast. Accusations fly, secret briefings circulate, and Blair-era figures are quietly influencing the corridors of power — from Tim Allen to Tom Baldwin. Left-wing MPs are warning that the same old advisers risk stifling fresh ideas at a time when the government is already under fire.
Streeting himself is recalibrating — moving away from the Blair wing, championing Palestinian causes, and publicly supporting Labour allies. Meanwhile, other potential contenders — from John Healey to Bridget Phillipson, Louise Haigh, and Lucy Powell — are quietly weighing their moves.
One thing is clear: Starmer’s leadership has never felt more vulnerable. And as backbench fury grows, the question on everyone’s lips is simple — will Labour finally act, or will Starmer cling to power as the storm rages around him? 🌪️
source : daily mail
