The move to unseat UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is proving far from straightforward. According to Labour Party rules, 20% of MPs would need to back a challenger to trigger a leadership contest.
Allies of Starmer have made it clear that he is prepared to fight any attempt by Labour MPs to challenge his leadership, BBC reports. Many loyalists believe his position could be threatened immediately after the budget vote in two weeks.
Critics argue that this is a sign Downing Street has been forced into a corner, seeking government reshuffles to navigate the situation. Starmer’s friends are concerned that plots against him may already be forming, with potential attempts to replace him seen as a serious threat to his leadership.
Among MPs discussed as possible challengers are some of Starmer’s closest cabinet allies, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Others speculated include Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and, less prominently, former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh.
Recent polls suggest Starmer has suffered a sharp drop in popularity, potentially making him one of the least popular British prime ministers in modern opinion surveys. Labour has also struggled to secure more than 20% of the electorate in recent months.
However, the effort to replace Starmer is not simple: 81 MPs (20% of Labour’s current parliamentary representation in the House of Commons) would need to support a challenger.
For months, some within Labour have acknowledged that the government faces a significant decline following election losses in Scotland and Wales, with local elections scheduled across England in May.
