LONDON – When The Mail on Sunday revealed a fortnight ago that Labour MPs were plotting to oust Sir Keir Starmer, the four leading contenders to replace him were dubbed the ‘drab four’ by columnist Richard Littlejohn.
After a week which has veered from farce to tragedy – for Britain’s economy and its standing in the world – the field of ‘stalking horses’ behind the prime minister has now widened to grand national levels.
A disastrous attempt to brief against Health Secretary Wes Streeting has helped him to pull ahead of the rest of the ‘drab four’ – Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband – as scheming by Labour MPs accelerates amid mounting panic about Rachel Reeves’ ‘omnishambles’ Budget preparations.
The chaos, which included a humiliating U-turn by Ms Reeves over plans to raise income tax rates, means that a challenge to Sir Keir has moved closer than ever.
Growing numbers of Labour MPs are demanding the removal of No 10 Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, with one saying this weekend: ‘‘It has got to the point where either Morgan goes or the prime minister does.’’
‘‘His removal is essential if Keir is to avoid a challenge. Starmer doesn’t understand the level of fury among MPs.’’
The fear of a coup helps to explain why Reeves changed her mind about increasing income tax.
Streeting was publicly opposed to the increase and stood to benefit from the backlash.
It means that the total number of Labour ministers and MPs considering making a pitch for No.10 is now closer to a dozen. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is the favourite among both the public and the Labour Party members who vote in the contest.
However, unlike Streeting, he is currently marooned in the North without a Commons seat.
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