Starmer rivals position for possible contest

Potential successors to the prime minister are increasingly positioning themselves as allies of Sir Keir Starmer warn that any leadership contest would throw the government into turmoil.

The manoeuvring is becoming more visible across the Labour Party. Supporters of the prime minister, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, have publicly defended his leadership. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Reeves argued that launching a contest now would “plunge the country into chaos” at a time of international instability and as the government’s economic plans were beginning to show progress.

At the same time, allies of Health Secretary Wes Streeting believe he could soon mount a leadership challenge to Keir Starmer. However, rivals within the party are suggesting he has struggled to secure enough backing from MPs.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has also re-entered the conversation. In recent interviews, she said she had resolved the tax issues that previously damaged her political standing and was now prepared to “play my part” in the debates expected around Labour’s future leadership.

Elsewhere, Andy Burnham is viewed as another possible contender, though his position outside Westminster complicates matters. Burnham would need to return to Parliament, secure party backing, and hope the timing of any leadership race allows him to compete effectively.

Speculation intensified after Burnham unexpectedly cancelled his regular BBC Radio Manchester phone-in show with Mike Sweeney. His spokesperson said he was focused on discussions following last week’s local election results — a reflection of the difficult political moment facing both Labour and the government.

Another figure drawing attention is defence minister Al Carns, who recently gained publicity after climbing Mount Everest. Writing in the left-leaning magazine New Statesman, Carns argued that Labour had lost touch with working-class voters. He wrote that many felt the party no longer understood their lives and had therefore turned elsewhere politically.

Despite growing speculation, the prime minister and his supporters remain defiant. They insist that replacing the leader now would be reckless and could leave the government paralysed for months.

With tensions rising inside Labour, the coming days are likely to be critical for the party’s future direction.