PM is determined to fight on in No 10 but various contenders to replace him have been organising for some time
Keir Starmer has long been dogged by leadership rivals – despite only having won a huge majority two years ago. He insists there is no vacancy, and that he will fight on in No 10, seeking a second five-year term and a decade in the job. However, the various contenders to replace him have been organising for some time.
Many others may consider throwing their hats into the ring if the contest opened up – from the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, to the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, and the armed forces minister, Al Carns. But here are Starmer’s main threats:
Health secretary
The health secretary is widely thought to be the most ready for a leadership contest, and the one who stands to gain from a competition right now – given Andy Burnham is not an MP and Angela Rayner still has an unresolved tax problem. Streeting is considered to be on the right of the party, formerly close to Peter Mandelson, and a leading light of the Blairite Progress wing. However, he has been veering to the left for some time, on the issues of Gaza and welfare, no doubt with an eye on the Labour membership who are likely to be the ones to decide the next leader of the party.
