Rebel Labour MPs are certain Sir Keir Starmer’s reign is “coming to an end” as the Prime Minister pins his hopes on the state visit of Donald Trump.
Mr Starmer’s allies are trying to fend off challenges to his leadership from Andy Burnham as Sir Keir comes under mounting pressure.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester has been laying the groundwork for a leadership bid, with a new campaign group calling on Downing Street to roll out wealth taxes, nationalise utility companies, and end the two-child benefit cap.
Mr Burnham is expected to criticise the Prime Minister at Labour’s annual party conference as he calls for a “reset” to help Labour win the next election.
In what has been inferred as a bid to secure an ally at the top of Labour, the Manchester Mayor has voiced his support for Lucy Powell in the party’s deputy leadership race.
Senior Labour MP and former leader of Manchester City Council, Graham Stringer, said Sir Keir is “vulnerable” and “supping in the last-chance saloon” following the Lord Mandelson scandal.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle argued in favour of Mr Burnham remaining in Manchester.
Mr Kyle said: “Andy’s a real talent. I think he’s doing an incredible job in Manchester. I think Manchester really needs him. I like working with him in Manchester. It would be a shame for Manchester to lose him.”
Mr Burnham would have to seek a seat through a by-election in order to stand as leader, with one option being the Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton where the MP Andrew Gwynne has been suspended since February after sending sexist messages on a WhatsApp chat.
Labour MP says Sir Keir Starmer will be ‘gone next May’
Labour MP Richard Burgon said Sir Keir Starmer will be “gone next May” unless he “changes course immediately.
Mr Burgon told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “Lots of MPs are looking to the elections next May. Unfortunately, the opinion polls suggest they’re going to be a complete disaster.
“I think it’s inevitable that if May’s elections go as people predict, and the opinion polls predict, then I think Starmer will be gone at that time.
“It feels like we are years and years into an unpopular Government, rather than a year into a Government that’s just got rid of the Conservatives. We’re losing votes to the left, we’re going to be losing seats to the right.
“We face a real threat for the first time in our country’s history of what I would consider to be a far-right extremist Government – it’s the Prime Minister’s duty to stop that happening. You can only do that by delivering for people who want real change, and if you can’t do that, then of course, there’s going to have to be change at the very top.”
Mr Burgon continued: “The Prime Minister needs to change course immediately, otherwise, I’m pretty certain he’ll be gone next May as it stands.”
First Channel migrants to be deported under Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘one in, one out’ deal
The first Channel migrants are set to be deported on flights under Sir Keir Starmer’s “one in, one out” deal with France.
GB News understands that deportation flights will leave this week, but there are no confirmed reports that the first flight will leave today.
Asylum seekers who arrived in the UK on small boats last month have been issued with formal removal directions, telling them that they will be deported back to France within five days.
Some 100 were detained on arrival in the first two weeks of August before their names and details were passed to the French Government for approval.
Confirming the flights are taking off from next week, a Home Office spokesman said: “Under the new UK-France Treaty, people crossing in small boats can now be detained and removed to France.
“We expect the first returns to take place imminently. Protecting the UK border is our top priority. We will do whatever it takes to restore order to secure our borders.”
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