*Given Lifeline After Health Secretary Streeting’s Challenge Fails To Materialize
Keir Starmer was increasingly confident that he had seen off the immediate threat to his job on Tuesday after a challenge from Health Secretary Wes Streeting failed to materialise despite several of the latter’s allies quitting the government.
Downing Street insiders suggested that the Health Secretary did not yet have the required support from the 81 MPs he needed to formally launch a leadership bid after Starmer issued a “put up or shut up” ultimatum to his cabinet.
Streeting was due to hold talks with Starmer on Wednesday, at which he was expected to talk candidly about his concerns, with No 10 insiders suggesting he was climbing down from intense speculation that he was on the brink of running.
“After all that, it’s looking like Wes may not have the numbers after all,” one loyalist Cabinet Minister told the Guardian UK.
“I’m pleased and furious at the same time. The best thing for him now is to come out with some dignity and end the drama,” the source added.
Starmer’s allies also believe he has seen off a threat from the Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, for the time being, with one saying: “Andy’s supporters keep saying he’s got a seat. But where is it? It’s not real unless he has one.”
However, the Prime Minister’s fragile authority has been further weakened by the resignation of four Ministers – three of them close allies of Streeting – in what appeared to be an orchestrated move. More than 90 Labour MPs have called for him to go.
At a private meeting on Tuesday, Labour-supporting trade unions were divided over whether to call for Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure, with one source saying there had been a “big fight” among union officials.
However, they are understood to have agreed to issue a statement saying that Starmer would not lead the party into the next election, despite two affiliatesvarguing it was not in the best interests of the unions to get involved in any leadership drama.
Earlier on Tuesday, a defiant Starmer told his Cabinet he would fight on as Prime Minister after a turbulent few days in the wake of crushing election results across Britain last week, saying the threshold for a leadership challenge had not been met.
A series of Cabinet Ministers, including David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister, rallied round their embattled leader, while more than 110 different backbenchers signed a letter saying it was not the time for a challenge.
“I take responsibility for these election results and I take responsibility for delivering the change we promised,” Starmer told the Cabinet meeting.
“The past 48 hours have been destabilising for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families. The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered,” he asserted.
There was anger within Cabinet ranks over what they regarded as Streeting’s attempts to destabilise Starmer, after three of his closest allies – the Ministers Jess Phillips, Zubir Ahmed and Alex Davies-Jones – resigned from government and called on the Prime Minister to go.
While several sources close to Streeting suggested he did not have the numbers to launch a challenge, one ally said it would be premature to say the Health Secretary would not be able to do so. “Don’t rule it out yet,” they said.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the first Minister to resign on Tuesday, is backing Burnham to replace Starmer.
She told the Guardian UK she wanted the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his departure that would allow the Greater Manchester Mayor to run.
While he appears to have survived for now, even his most loyal Ministers acknowledge that Starmer is unlikely to take Labour into the next election, unless he can dramatically turn round his and the government’s fortunes.
Downing Street last night announced four new Ministers to replace those who had resigned, including Natalie Fleet to the Home Office, Nesil Caliskan to Housing, Catherine Atkinson to Justice and Preet Kaur Gill to Health. Three more Whips were also appointed.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Starmer (l) and Streeting.
