BREAKING: Labour leadership contenders are making bold moves, offering future government jobs to colleagues in exchange for support against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a rapidly developing political contest. Former Labour MP Rosie Duffield revealed this alarming strategy today, intensifying speculation about an imminent challenge to Starmer’s leadership.
In a post on X, Duffield claimed that “very senior Labour MPs” are attempting to secure alliances by promising positions to those who will support them. She stated that some potential candidates, facing precarious positions in the upcoming election, are even seeking safer seats in constituencies they have never visited before.
This revelation comes in the wake of significant turmoil within the Labour Party, particularly after the forced resignation of Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister two months ago. Lucy Powell, the current Deputy Labour leader, was also dismissed from her cabinet position by Starmer during an autumn reshuffle. Both are now seen as potential challengers for the Prime Minister’s job.
Meanwhile, Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has emerged as a frontrunner to succeed Starmer, especially following a chaotic briefing last week that suggested he was preparing a challenge. Left-wing MP Clive Lewis has also called for Starmer’s replacement, advocating for Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, stating that Starmer’s position is “not tenable.”
“Labour grandees need to seriously consider how to bring Andy Burnham back into the parliamentary Labour party and let him step up and become the next PM,” Lewis told C4 News.
Former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett issued a stark warning, stating that Starmer must regain control within the next three months or face “serious consequences.” He insisted that the Prime Minister needs to make decisive changes, including possibly moving his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who has been criticized for his handling of the recent briefing.
Blunkett emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “If you don’t display in the next three months that you have got a grip… then something quite serious will erupt from both the parliamentary party and beyond.”
In the backdrop of this brewing leadership crisis, Labour MPs privately speculate that Streeting’s opportunity to ascend to leadership could materialize shortly after this month’s Budget, as Rayner continues to recover from her exit from the government. However, Streeting has publicly denied any intentions of plotting against Starmer.
As speculation grows and tensions rise within the party, the next few weeks could prove pivotal for the Labour leadership landscape. With potential candidates actively maneuvering for support and the backdrop of public discontent, Labour’s future direction hangs in the balance.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds, and watch for potential leadership changes that could reshape the political landscape ahead of the next election.
