LIZZY BUCHAN: What subsequent for Keir Starmer as Labour riot pushes PM to the brink
Panicking Labour MPs are looking north for a route out of the electoral doldrums as Keir Starmer battles to retain his grip on power after the local elections bloodbath
Keir Starmer is facing a Labour revolt as he battles to ling onto power(Image: James Manning/PA Wire)
‘When the herd moves, it moves.’
That was how Boris Johnson described his own MPs turning against him when he was forced out of power in 2022.
And once again, we find ourselves watching MPs try to decide whether to commit regicide as Keir Starmer’s grip on power is tested to breaking point. Things are moving quickly, and the outcome is not at all certain.
The mood was darkening in Downing Street on Monday evening as the drip-feed of MPs calling on the Prime Minister to go showed no sign of slowing. A string of resignations among the junior ranks of government also sparked rife speculation of a coordinated coup. Whether this domino effect continues in the next 24-48 hours will be crucial.
There remains no unity among MPs over any successor. But momentum at Westminster did appear to be shifting towards Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, as panicking MPs look north for a route out of the electoral doldrums.
READ MORE: Angela Rayner speech in full as she gives scathing verdict on Burnham rulingREAD MORE: All the Labour MPs calling for Keir Starmer to quit including former ministers and senior MPs
Plenty of MPs are talking about the idea of the PM setting out a timetable for his exit. Read between the lines and what they really mean is ‘give Burnham time to get back to Parliament’.
The Greater Manchester Mayor has rare popularity with voters at a time when almost every politician is viewed negatively by the electorate. And one of his biggest hurdles to a Westminster comeback – the approval of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) – appears to be fading.
Reports suggested officials on the body were now less likely to block a second attempt to run as MP as was the case in February at the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Former Deputy PM Angela Rayner has thrown her weight behind Burnham’s return to Parliament, and the pair have met privately in recent weeks. She is still waiting for the results of an HMRC probe into her tax affairs after she admitted to underpaying tax on her seaside flat.
But I have heard whispers from MPs who would have backed her who fear this may be too big an obstacle to overcome – even if HMRC clears her. It is understood that she could row in behind Burnham – but she would go up against Wes Streeting if he moved early to block Burnham from a contest.
One of the ministerial aides who resigned on Monday works directly under the Health Secretary – but his camp still insisted he doesn’t intend to pull the trigger.
This could still fizzle out. Downing Street hopes the PM can cling on through this turbulence, and deliver a King’s Speech on Wednesday that brings MPs back together.
But the Prime Minister is now at the mercy of his Cabinet and the Parliamentary Labour Party.
