Ex-minister tells UK cabinet to oust Starmer or face her leadership challenge
A former cabinet minister has told Sir Keir Starmer's team that if his colleagues do not move to oust him, she will mount a leadership challenge herself. The ultimatum, after a chastening set of local elections, brings open Labour infighting back to Downing Street.
A former Labour cabinet minister has issued a stark ultimatum to Sir Keir Starmer's inner circle: if colleagues do not move to remove him from the party leadership, she will table a formal challenge herself. The message landed at Downing Street after Labour's punishing performance in the latest English local elections.
Starmer's team is publicly rejecting any talk of resignation or contest, but a letter signed by more than 25 MPs is now circulating, demanding sweeping changes to the economic programme, immigration policy and electoral strategy. National polls show Labour support down nine points over the past three months.
The development carries weight for markets. Sterling slipped against the dollar once the story broke and gilt yields edged up on a fresh political-risk premium. A leadership contest could disrupt the autumn budget timetable in September and complicate coordination with the Bank of England as it weighs the next move on interest rates.
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