SIR Keir Starmer’s premiership was dealt a body blow last night as at least three Cabinet ministers joined the growing mutiny in his party.
His top table colleagues, understood to include Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper, are said to have urged him to consider setting out a timetable for his departure.
They added to the chorus of more than 70 MPs already saying his time was up and followed the resignations of four Government aides.
It came as his attempted reset speech backfired with his party following its local elections battering last week.
Sir Keir is due to have his weekly meeting with his top team this morning – and Sky News reported that senior colleagues will tell him he has lost the confidence of the party including some of his Cabinet.
However, none of his leadership rivals have yet joined the rebellion and are believed to be reluctant to wield the knife themselves.
Sir Keir is refusing to walk away saying in a high-stakes speech he would “prove the doubters wrong” and fight the next election.
He tried to win over restless MPs by burnishing his left-wing credentials and pledging a closer relationship with Europe.
But he angered many MPs further by announcing just modest policy changes.
Critics have long called for him to go.
Moderate MPs joined their ranks on Monday, with Justice Secretary David Lammy’s parliamentary private secretary Melanie Ward, Cabinet Office PPS Naushabah Khan, PPS to Streeting Joe Morris, and Environment Secretary PPS Tom Rutland all quitting.
The Times reported that six PPS’s had quit and been replaced.
Mahmood’s PPS Sally Jameson also called for Sir Keir to quit. More than 70 rebels have gone public tonight.
But the frontrunners to replace him – Angela Rayner, Streeting and Andy Burnham – have not yet called for Sir Keir to quit.
Ex-Deputy PM Rayner did pile fresh pressure on her old boss today, demanding that he “sets out the change our country needs”.
An ally of Streeting said he was poised to campaign but “won’t be the one to bring the house down”.
And Manchester Mayor Burnham still needs to find a seat so he can return to Parliament to stand.
Leadership hopefuls will need the support of 81 MPs – 20 per cent – to challenge Sir Keir for the top job.
As Starmer desperately tries to cling on…
- The PM doubled down and insisted he will ‘prove doubters wrong’ in a speech today – as MPs and unions call for his head
- Angela Rayner tore into Keir and backed Andy Burnham’s return in a scathing broadside
- Rebel MP and ex-minister Catherine West said she’d launch a leadership bid herself if Labour doesn’t pick a new PM
- Keir brought back Gordon Brown in a desperate bid to shore up his position
Former junior minister Catherine West began trying to force a leadership contest by corralling colleagues to join her coup.
But the PM remained defiant, saying: “The election results were tough.
“We lost some brilliant Labour representatives. That hurts and it should. I take responsibility.”
Sir Keir acknowledged public anger, adding: “I know people are frustrated by the state of Britain, frustrated by politics, and some people are frustrated with me.
“I know I have my doubters, and I know I need to prove them wrong – and I will.”
Pressed over his future, Sir Keir warned that Labour would only repeat the Tory leadership merry-go-round if MPs forced him out.
He said: “It inflicted huge damage on this country. A Labour Government will never be forgiven if we repeat that. I’m not going to plunge this country into chaos.”
And the PM also accused Reform UK of exploiting public despair.
In an attack on its leader Nigel Farage over Brexit, Sir Keir said: “He took Britain for a ride. He’s not just a grifter, he is a chancer.”
Sir Keir also confirmed Labour would bring forward legislation this week paving the way for full nationalisation of British Steel.
He said a public interest test could be met and vowed the Government would step in to protect jobs and Britain’s industrial future.
And he signalled a major shift towards closer ties with Europe, saying that his Government would be defined by “rebuilding our relationship with Europe”.
Sir Keir noticeably did not mention immigration during his speech except for one cursory reference.
He also vowed to block “far-right agitators” travelling to Britain for a planned rally this weekend.
The PM warned: “We will not allow people to come to the UK and spread hate on our streets.”
The attempted coup against Sir Keir has split Labour open – with loyalists sharpening their knives against would-be rivals.
One Cabinet minister told The Sun: “People forget how useless Andy Burnham was in Westminster.
“He ran two dire leadership campaigns.
“He went up to Manchester and wants to come back with the leadership gift-wrapped for him.”
