The Labour Leadership Question That Refuses to Go Away
Speculation around Labour leadership remains persistent despite efforts to quell it.
Allies of Keir Starmer have briefed to deter potential challengers, with a notable briefing about Wes Streeting intended to ward off bids against Starmer.
Starmer himself acknowledged the rife nature of leadership speculation.
The situation is contrasted with the Conservative leadership where clear mechanisms, like the 1922 Committee letters, make coups more structured; Labour lacks an established path for leadership challenges.
No.10 has sought to counter speculation with discreet diplomatic efforts, particularly through Amy Richards, Starmer’s new political secretary, aiming to deepen MPs’ engagement with the leader.
Potential contenders named in the discussions include Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband, Lucy Powell, Shabana Mahmood, and Louise Haigh, with internal Labour groups like the Tribune and union influences on the National Executive Committee also factoring into dynamics.
Possible scenarios include deals or run-offs such as Streeting-Rayner or Streeting-Mahmood, the potential return of Burnham, and roles for figures like Jim McMahon or Andrew Gwynne.
Unions and internal elections may reshape future pathways for leadership challenges.
Any challenger would need a credible plan to differentiate themselves amid ongoing economic and international challenges as well as Starmer’s leadership style.
Much of the leadership talk is described as gossip with no consensus on how an actual challenge might unfold, indicating that while some scenarios seem plausible, the picture remains uncertain.
Theresa May’s leadership trajectory is cited as a cautionary tale on how leadership crises might escalate.
