Starmer braced for judgement day as Streeting set to give up and MP says ‘clear your schedule’
Health Secretary Wes Streeting is poised to switch off Sir Keir Starmer’s political life support by launching his bombshell leadership bid tomorrow (May 14), his allies say. The mutinous minister reportedly left a crunch No10 showdown with “his mind made up” after spending just 16 minutes inside Downing Street today (May 13).
One insider revealed: “He is going for it.” But a panicking No10 has insisted the PM still had “full confidence” in him.
The PM’s spokesman refused to say what was discussed behind closed doors. And Mr Streeting’s own team failed to deny the claims, insisting only that he was “proud of his record of falling waiting lists”.
Despite vowing earlier this week he would not quit or “plunge our country into chaos”, Starmer now faces his day of reckoning, with few in Westminster now believing he can cling on to his doomed premiership. Labour’s union paymasters piled in with a brutal warning that Starmer “will not lead Labour into the next election”.
The Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation – which includes Unite, Unison and the GMB – blasted Labour for “not doing enough to deliver the change that working people voted for”.
The Sun reports a Labour MP telling journalists to “clear your schedule” and warned of a “very spiky day”.
Meanwhile Labour’s own backbench committee begged MPs to stop plotting and resigning, warning “the scenes of the last 48 hours cannot continue”. It said the party risked “lasting damage” if it continued to “descend into chaos”.
Labour was hammered in last week’s local and devolved elections, sparking all-out civil war inside the party. More than 80 MPs have publicly called on Starmer to go and four ministers have already walked.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is said to be ready to run if Streeting triggers a contest, while Angela Rayner is also expected to throw her hat into the ring. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham cannot stand because he is not currently an MP.
And Westminster’s madness even spilled into comedy during yesterday’s State Opening of Parliament. As Black Rod banged on the Commons door to summon MPs for the King’s Speech, one wag shouted: “Not now Andy!” – a cheeky dig at rumours Burnham could try to storm back into Westminster for a leadership grab.
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