Streeting to meet Starmer on Wednesday as the prime minister defies calls to step down – UK politics live
Health minister Zubir Ahmed become latest Streeting ally to resign, saying Starmer’s position now ‘wholly untenable’
This is from Pippa Crerar, the Guardian’s political editor.
EXCL: Zubir Ahmed, health minister and another close ally of Wes Streeting, quits calling for Keir Starmer to step aside.
Feels like the Streeting bid could be on
Here is the letter.
Key events
Wes Streeting to meet Keir Starmer tomorrow
Lammy urges Labour rebels to back off, saying no rival has numbers to take on PM and they’re only helping Farage
Labour urges London assembly to investigate Zack Polanski over council tax payments
26 hereditary peers given life peerages so they can continue to attend Lords
Health minister Zubir Ahmed become latest Streeting ally to resign, saying Starmer’s position now ‘wholly untenable’
Marie Rimmer says claims she’s recently talked to Burnham about giving up her St Helens seat for him are ‘nonsense’
Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth says Wales gaining ‘new confidence’ as he’s named as first minister
More than 100 Labour MPs sign letter saying it’s ‘no time for leadership contest’
Labour MP Marie Rimmer quashes speculation she could stand down to free up seat for Burnham
Alex Davies-Jones resigns as victims’ minister, saying Starmer must quit after ‘catastrophic’ election defeats
Phillips accuses Starmer of blocking law to stop children’s phones being used for naked pictures in resignation letter
Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips resigns, saying Labour needs leader with more ‘gusto’
Burnham allies warn against quick ‘coronation’ of Streeting if Starmer quits
Tax cuts and cost of living help proposed by Labour-linked groups allied to Streeting and Burnham
Prospect of Farage as PM strengthens case for planning for referendum on Irish reunification, SDLP says
Starmer ally Jenny Chapman says PM in ‘good’ state and cabinet ‘united’ in backing him
No one challenged Starmer at cabinet, McFadden says
Steve Reed says ministers getting on with their jobs, as cabinet wraps up
Starmer’s statement to cabinet – what does it mean?
Starmer tells cabinet no one has triggered process for leadership challenge and he’s not resigning
Miatta Fahnbulleh becomes first minister to resign calling for Starmer’s resignation
John McDonnell claims ‘coup’ against Starmer orchestrated by Streeting
Pippa Crerar on what factors cabinet ministers will consider as they ponder Starmer’s future
UK government borrowing costs rise in response to leadership uncertainty
Greens’ Zack Polanski admits failing to pay correct council tax on houseboat
King’s speech still set to go ahead tomorrow, despite leadership turmoil, Darren Jones says
Darren Jones says Starmer ‘listening to colleagues’, and does not rule out PM announcing resignation timetable
Keir Starmer to face crucial cabinet meeting as ministers and MPs urge him to resign
The last time Keir Starmer faced a threat to his leadership, his core team assembled in the cabinet room and persuaded ministers to fire off a succession of supportive tweets in an attempt to keep him in office. This time has been different.
As the number of MPs calling for the prime minister to resign has grown over the last 48 hours, much of the cabinet has remained quiet.
And though the prime minister remained in office by Tuesday night, some in government were wondering whether his political operation was as sharp as it once was, especially since the departure of Starmer’s long-term aide Morgan McSweeney.
“How could they not plan for this, it’s mad,” said one MP, frustrated at what they saw as a lack of fightback from Downing Street. Another said there was “literally no guidance or plan, I have no idea what plan it was that they think they were preparing”.
Starmer’s political operation is a very different one from what it was for most of his first 20 months in office, during which the prime minister would decide the broad direction of the government but leave much of the daily politics to McSweeney.
Donald Trump has had his say and claimed Keir Starmer was “windmilling the country to death” but said it was up to the PM whether or not to quit.
Speaking at the White House before flying to China, Trump said: “Well, my advice to him has always been, open up your oil in the North Sea.
“You got one of the great oil finds anywhere in the world, and you’re not using it, they’re not allowed to use it, and it’s one of the best in the world, among the best oils in the world.
“Open up your oil in the North Sea and get tough on immigration.
“Europe is being very, very hurt by immigration all over Europe.”
Asked whether the prime minister should stay in office or quit, Trump added: “That’s up to him, but I told him from day one, you’re getting killed on energy.
“You’re windmilling your country to death. Open up the North Sea. You have one of the greatest sources of energy in the world.”
Politico reported that Buckingham Palace had privately asked whether King Charles should proceed as planned with the ceremonial state opening of parliament on Wednesday, as Keir Starmer faces a mounting leadership crisis that threatens to force him out of office.
It said according to people familiar with the matter, granted anonymity to speak freely, the king’s team made clear in conversation with Starmer’s officials the importance of protecting the monarch from any impression that he is being used for political ends.
It said that according to the people familiar with the matter, in one recent discussion Charles’s senior aide asked top government officials including Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo whether the king should go ahead with Wednesday’s ceremony. The Palace was told that it was constitutionally correct for the king to open parliament on Wednesday as planned.
But in the discussions with the Palace, which also included Starmer’s office, there was a general acknowledgement that this year’s ceremony would be an awkward moment for the king, Politico reported. The Palace made clear that the king would fulfil his constitutional duties as required but that it should be for the politicians to handle the political crisis and the monarch should not be involved, it said.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the report.
It is understood it sees State Opening as a matter for the government. Conversations between the Palace and No 10 happen all the time about all manner of things, which is part of normal business. But, it is understood, that at no time did, nor would, anyone ever suggest State Opening might not go ahead.
John Healey publicly promised the UK was willing to contribute HMS Dragon, RAF Typhoons and mine clearance specialists to any post-war Hormuz peace keeping mission at a 40 country virtual meeting of defence ministers held this afternoon.
The defence secretary made a reference to the current political crisis in his opening remarks arguing, for the second time on Tuesday that politicians should focus on protecting the public, and by implication, not be distracted by infighting.
“The crisis in the Middle East affects all our nations – our people, our companies, our economies – and we must meet this moment. We must have a hard focus on this crisis, as the weeks and months ahead will define the fortunes of our economies over the next few years.
“And our responsibility as political leaders, regardless of domestic politics, must be the protection of our people from this immediate crisis ahead. That’s why this mission is so important.
“And we all want to see the ceasefire strengthened. We want to see it sustained, and we want an end of this conflict for good.”
Wes Streeting to meet Keir Starmer tomorrow
The health secretary, Wes Streeting, who is widely seen as a leadership hopeful, will meet Keir Starmer on Wednesday morning, the Press Association understands.
It is understood that Streeting will not say anything after the meeting that could distract from the King’s Speech.
The Times said he is expected to discuss the “turbulence” gripping the party and how Starmer will “get us out of this mess”.
Here is the full list of the 111 MPs who have publicly backed Keir Starmer and declared “this is no time for a leadership contest”.
Jack Abbott
Luke Akehurst
Bayo Alaba
Callum Anderson
Catherine Atkinson
Calvin Bailey
Alex Baker
Antonia Bance
Alex Barros-Curtis
Johanna Baxter
Rachel Blake
Kevin Bonavia
Sureena Brackenridge
Phil Brickell
David Burton-Sampson
Ruth Cadbury
Juliet Campbell
Bambos Charalambous
Ben Coleman
Tom Collins
Liam Conlon
Pam Cox
Neil Coyle
Jonathan Davies
Shaun Davies
Jim Dickson
Helena Dollimore
Maria Eagle
Clive Efford
Kirith Entwistle
Chris Evans
Linsey Farnsworth
Patricia Ferguson
Natalie Fleet
Catherine Fookes
Daniel Francis
Allison Gardner
Anna Gelderd
Gill German
Preet Kaur Gill
Becky Gittens
Nia Griffith
Amanda Hack
Fabian Hamilton
Carolyn Harris
Lloyd Hatton
Tom Hayes
Claire Hazelgrove
Alison Hume
Rupa Huq
Patrick Hurley
Gerald Jones
Sojan Joseph
Warinder Juss
Chris Kane
Jayne Kirkham
Sonia Kumar
Laura Kyrke-Smith
Noah Law
Andrew Lewin
Alice Macdonald
Alex Mayer
Douglas Mcallister
Lola McAvoy
Kerry McCarthy
Julie Minns
Perran Moon
Luke Murphy
Chris Murray
Josh Newbury
Samantha Niblett
Abena Oppong-Asare
Tristan Osborne
Andrew Pakes
Michael Payne
Jonathan Pearce
Toby Perkins
David Pinto-Duschinsky
Joe Powell
Peter Prinsley
Richard Quigley
Jenny Riddle-Carpenter
Tim Roca
Matt Rodda
Sam Rushworth
Oli Ryan
Michelle Scroogham
Mark Sewards
Baggy Shanker
Tulip Siddiq
Andy Slaughter
John Slinger
Nick Smith
Alistair Strathern
Alan Strickland
Lauren Sullivan
Kirsteen Sullivan
Peter Swallow
Alison Taylor
David Taylor
Jess Toale
Matthew Turmaine
Liz Twist
Valerie Vaz
Chris Vince
Michelle Welsh
Matt Western
John Whitby
Sean Woodcock
Steve Yemm
Daniel Zeichner
For months, MPs expected the results of the May local elections across the UK to be a tipping point in Keir Starmer’s premiership. But in the aftermath of the results, and as the number of Labour MPs publicly calling for Starmer to leave has gone past 80, it has become clear that his opponents are serving a variety of agendas. Here are some of the key tendencies visible in the growing opposition to Starmer.
1. Frustration after local elections
Catherine West, the former Foreign Office minister who briefly threatened to launch a “stalking horse” candidacy, spoke for many MPs still reeling from the local elections results when she dared cabinet ministers and others to formally challenge Starmer.
The MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet was prompted to go public after a furious WhatsApp exchange with the housing secretary, Steve Reed. Others – including Paulette Hamilton, the MP for Erdington, Ruth Jones (Newport West and Islwyn), Richard Baker (Glenrothes and Mid Fife) and Alex Ballinger (Halesowen) blamed the fact that “constituents have lost confidence” in Starmer.
A former supporter of Starmer said: “He clearly did not feel the pain of the local elections results and that came across in his speech. The lack of empathy. He did not come from the political grassroots and it shows. If he doesn’t have the empathy there will continue to be a trickle of fed-up MPs.”
2. Post-reshuffle resentment?
Some Labour MPs believe many of their colleagues have been biding their time to express how they truly felt about Starmer’s reshuffle before conference last year in the wake of Angela Rayner’s resignation from government. “Talented people were sacked, and Starmer made them feel as though they were the problem when it’s always been about his lack of vision,” a publicly loyal senior figure said.
West was sacked as the minister for the Indo-Pacific in last September’s reshuffle. Justin Madders, the former employment minister, is a member of the Tribune group, who support Andy Burnham or will back another soft-left candidate if Burnham cannot get into Westminster in time. Catherine McKinnell, the former Send minister, also sacked in the reshuffle, is known as an ally of Wes Streeting.
Lammy urges Labour rebels to back off, saying no rival has numbers to take on PM and they’re only helping Farage
David Lammy, the deputy PM, has urged the MPs trying to get rid of Keir Starmer to back off. In a clip for broadcasters, he said over the past 24 hours – which has seen a series of backbenchers calling for Starmer’s departure, was well as four ministers and several ministerial aides resigning – not one rival has been able to get the names needed to mount a challenge.
Lammy said that the only people benefiting from this crisis were Nigel Farage and the populist right.
He went on:
What I say to colleagues is, look, let’s just step back, take a breath, let’s remember that we have the king’s speech, we are in government to do a job of work.
It’s been 24 hours now and nobody has come forward to put themselves forward in the processes that exist in the party. No one seems to have the names to stand up against Keir Starmer. And for those who are suggesting that he should stand down, they should say which candidate would be better.
Let’s get on with the business of running this country and government. That’s what I’ve been doing today, and that’s what the prime minister’s been doing.
And I urge colleagues to step back and not benefit Nigel Farge and Reform.
That’s all from me for today. Nadeem Badshah is now taking over.
Labour urges London assembly to investigate Zack Polanski over council tax payments
Labour has urged London assembly officials to investigate the Green party leader, Zack Polanski, after he admitted that he may have failed to pay the correct council tax while living on a London houseboat, Ben Quinn and Jamie Grierson report.
There has been some speculation about Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, resigning tonight.
Only – she’s not, her spokesperson says.
This is from Pippa Crerar.
NEW: Shabana Mahmood, who had been on resignation watch, is not going to quit, her spokesman says. “No. She is getting on with the job”.
Jen Craft, the Labour MP for Thurrock, has said she wants Keir Starmer to resign. She says the pace of change is too slow, and it’s time for a change of leadership.
Huw Irranca-Davies has been elected llywydd (presiding officer) in the Senedd. A former Labour MP for Ogmore, who switched from Wesminster to the Senedd in 2016, Irranca-Davies was deputy first minister under Eluned Morgan.
Kerry Ferguson, a Plaid Cymru member of the Senedd, was elected as deputy presiding officer.
Irranca-Davies said he would carry out his role “with openness and collaboration, fairness and impartiality”.
The Labour MP Graeme Downie, who represents Dunfermline and Dollar, has released a statement saying he wants Keir Starmer to resign.
According to LabourList, there are now 92 Labour MPs who have called for Starmer’s resignation.
26 hereditary peers given life peerages so they can continue to attend Lords
Keir Starmer has released a list of 26 people who are getting peerages. While this might seem like a rather extreme way of currying favour in a leadership crisis, this honours list has nothing to do with Labour’s electoral plight. This is a political honours list and these peerages are going to people who already have hereditary peerages but who lost the right to sit in the Lords when the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act became law in March.
The act meant that hereditary peers were no longer entitled to the 92 seats in the Lords they were allowed after Tony Blair’s government got rid of most hereditaries in 1999. This was a concession to stop the Lords blocking the bill.
As a further concession to stop peers blocking Starmer’s bill, the government agreed that some of the 92 remaining hereditaries would be given life peerages so they can continue to attend on the basis of being life peers. There are 15 Conservatives, nine crossbenchers and two Labour peers on today’s list.
Another three hereditary peers got a life peerage upgrade (or downgrade, if you’re a fan of the class system – hereditary peers tend to be proper aristocrats, whereas life peers are generally clapped-out MPs) in an honours list in December.
Source link
