FLASH
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As the prime minister is set to deliver his most important speech since taking office today, loyalty within Labour is fraying in the face of the historic defeat. Key figures have begun to take a back seat, turning Downing Street into a frenzied battle for power, with every move signaling the possible end of the Starmer era...
When Angela Rayner finally broke her silence after the Labour Party's electoral humiliation, her words were a brutal blow to Sir Keir Starmer's record. "What we're doing is not working and that has to change. This could be our last chance..." she declared in a terse tone.
The former deputy prime minister called on Starmer to end the "toxic culture of cronyism" and allow Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to return to Westminster to take a leadership role.
Rayner offered a clear prescription for how Labour should “face the moment”, presenting a list of demands from the left wing aimed at transforming economic policies.
Its demands include higher taxation for the wealthy, immediate cuts to household costs, an end to the limited property system, an increase in the minimum wage and giving more powers to regional mayors.
"The Labour Party exists to improve the lives of ordinary people. But that is not happening fast enough and things need to change now," she said. Rayner's comments came on Sunday at the end of a difficult day for the British prime minister, as Labour MPs openly debated whether to launch a leadership contest immediately.
Now his fate depends in part on how his speech is received by a hitherto little-known figure: Catherine West MP. The former junior minister has threatened a formal leadership challenge if Starmer's speech fails to signal bolder policy implementation in the future.
Meanwhile, previously loyal MPs, both publicly and privately, have begun to declare their support for West to open the race. More than 25 MPs, from across the party, have called on Starmer to either resign or set a firm deadline for his departure.
Among them was Josh Simons, once a staunch loyalist, who bluntly declared that the prime minister had “lost his job.” Even the leader of Labour in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, blamed a “national wave” against the party for its crushing defeat in the Holyrood election.
In this atmosphere of tension, which many officials and analysts describe as "apocalyptic", the left wing of the party has panicked for fear that a quick race could favor Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, given that Andy Burnham cannot run until he wins an MP seat.
Names like John McDonnell and Richard Burgon have called for the race to be postponed, warning of the risk of a "palace coup" designed to crown someone like Streeting without a genuine ideological debate.
However, support for Starmer within the cabinet is waning. One minister admitted that confidence in the current prime minister has been severely shaken, saying the situation is extremely dangerous for the stability of the government.
Now, all eyes are on the next speech, where Starmer will attempt to present a new legislative agenda to convince his MPs that he can turn the tide.
But after losing more than 1,460 local council seats, the sceptics are numerous and vocal. Sources within Labour suggest that Catherine West is rapidly gathering support and could present Starmer with an ultimatum: immediate contest or a clear timetable for his departure.
Even figures like Ed Miliband are being mentioned as possible candidates to stop the right-wing surge. Starmer's recent interview, in which he declared that he intends to stay in power for two full terms, was met with derision from his colleagues.
They see him as incapable of communicating with voters and disconnected from political reality. “He has an expressionless face and a grating voice. No one is expecting a miracle from him anymore,” said a Labour MP on condition of anonymity./ Pamphlet from “The i Paper”
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