Senior Labour figures growing concerns that a weakened Prime Minister Keir Starmer risks steering the party toward electoral disaster. Despite pledges of loyalty from top ministers following controversy over his choice of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, doubts persist that Starmer has become a “prisoner of the cabinet.” Observers fear this limits his ability to conduct a reshuffle or advance key welfare reforms.
Internal Doubts on Leadership
A former senior Labour figure voiced stark criticism, stating: “I don’t think he can turn things round. I think he is completely useless as a leader. People keep saying he is a decent bloke and all the rest of it, but I think his backbenchers know they can control him and as a consequence he can’t seem to set out a programme of action and then stick to it.”
One Labour MP draws parallels to the Conservatives under John Major before the 1997 election and the final phase of Gordon Brown’s tenure. The MP remarked: “A zombie prime minister ambled into a general election which he lost.” Sources predict Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy remain secure, sidelining any bold reforms.
Election Speculation Intensifies
Speculation mounts that Starmer may step down after May elections, where Labour faces potential loss of Welsh Government control and heavy council defeats. However, the MP questions unity behind a successor, noting: “Wes Streeting is probably now going to find it nigh-on impossible to even stand for the leadership. His relationship with Mandelson probably has ended any hopes of that in the near future… If Starmer won’t resign we’re stuck with him then until the general election.”
Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, has publicly urged Starmer to resign, highlighting deepening party rifts. A former Labour minister decried the loss of confidence among MPs, saying: “One of the things that’s really appalled me is the cowardice of so many in the Labour party who have just assumed they are going to lose when there are three years left before the next election. One would have thought they would have concentrated instead on delivering for the country and not being so paranoid about the results, whether of by-elections or national elections in Wales and Scotland.”
The former minister added: “That’s not the way to conduct yourself as an elected representative. You’ve got to show people leadership and confidence and that’s sadly absent, I’m afraid, in so many MPs now. They appear to be worried only about their own seats.” He cautioned Welsh and Scottish Labour branches against distancing from Westminster, warning: “In my experience, divided parties – whether it’s along national lines or regional lines – always result in defeat. Always.”
Polling Data Reveals Challenges
Recent Opinium polling shows Starmer’s net approval rating at minus 44 on connecting with ordinary people, his lowest mark. While 23% view Kemi Badenoch as a potential Prime Minister, 40% disagree. Additionally, 52% of the public rates the UK Government’s handling of Donald Trump relations poorly, against 28% positively.
James Crouch, head of policy and public affairs at Opinium, observed: “Keir Starmer has been on net minus 40 or below for approaching a third of his premiership. The sustained nature of these low approval ratings is what drives the leadership speculation with every passing crisis.”
