Four Labour ‘stars’ who could be subsequent Prime Minister in the event that they took on Keir Starmer
Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham would wipe the floor with the PM in a leadership vote – and he would even lose to Wes Streeting and former leader Ed Miliband
Sir Keir Starmer would be hammered in a leadership race against top Labour figures, research found.
The prime minister would be thrashed by his former deputy Angela Rayner and the mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham if they were to face off against him, according to the poll of party members. And he would also be beaten by health secretary Wes Streeting and ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband.
The research for website LabourList found that 54% of members reckon there should be a new Labour leader in place before the next general election.
And 41% of those who backed Starmer for the top job in 2020 said he should be replaced, with 40% wanting him to stay.
Emma Burnell, editor of LabourList, said: “Starmer’s team have made it clear that he would contest a leadership contest were one to arise.
“Of course, that was a week ago and we all know that’s a long time in politics. It may well be that if it came to it Starmer would decide a contest in which he ran – and was possibly defeated – was too damaging to the party in the long term.”
It comes as some Labour MPs reckon Starmer could quit I’m the New Year before facing a leadership headache.
Politicians said they are suspicious about his “new zen-like mood.”
A backbencher who met him recently said: “He was very chilled. Not like someone who had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Or expects to have them for that much longer.”
The new survey also found that if Burnham battled Starmer in a leadership contest he would trounce him by 26%.
But Burnham would need to return to Westminster as a Labour MP to fight for the party leadership.
Rayner, who resigned as deputy PM in September for underpaying stamp duty on a swanky flat, would also defeat the PM by a 19-point margin.
Meanwhile, Streeting would edge out the Labour leader by 33% to 31%.
And Miliband, Labour leader from 2010-2015, would lead the PM by 4% should a leadership contest take place, the poll found.
Burnell added: “The two leading contenders to Starmer both face significant challenges. Rayner because it may be that not enough time has passed since she, very unfortunately, had to step down.
“Burnham because he faces several hurdles to being able to run. This might give Starmer and his team hope.”
