After the local elections yesterday, there’s been a big shift in mood within the Labour Party. Many of its own MPs are calling the results a disaster and openly criticizing Keir Starmer’s leadership so far. Some are saying his first 10 months as Prime Minister just haven’t been good enough.
Labour put a lot of effort into winning the Runcorn by-election, but still lost to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party. That defeat has only made things worse. Now, people within the party are blaming Starmer directly. They say he’s pushing away traditional Labour supporters by supporting cuts to disability benefits and removing help with heating bills in the winter.
This is a sharp contrast from last July, when Starmer led Labour to a huge election win—though it wasn’t because people were particularly excited about him. It’s just that now, support for him seems to be fading fast.
Despite all this backlash, Starmer is unlikely to be forced out any time soon. Labour’s majority in Parliament is so big that any talk of replacing him probably won’t go anywhere for now. Still, he seems stuck in a pattern of jumping from one crisis to another.
There’s also a growing rumor that’s been going around quietly for months: Starmer might not even want to stay in politics long-term. People close to the situation say he doesn’t really enjoy it, and he’s not known for being a strong speaker or passionate campaigner. Now, after these poor election results, talk is picking up that he may not run for Prime Minister again when the next election comes around. He might choose to leave after just one term and take on a more comfortable, high-paying job somewhere else.
But even if that’s true, he’s likely to remain in office for at least four more years. Still, political insiders—including top journalists like ITV’s Robert Peston—are shocked that this kind of speculation is happening so soon after Labour’s big win just months ago.
People are already wondering who might replace Starmer if he does step down. The leading candidate is surprising—and, to some, alarming. Former Labour leader Ed Miliband is being mentioned seriously again, and some think he has a real chance. It might sound like a joke, but Labour members—the ones who actually vote in leadership contests—really like him. A recent poll among party activists gave him a huge approval rating.
Another possible successor is Angela Rayner, who is also very popular with the party’s base. She comes in just behind Miliband in the polls. Lisa Nandy is another name in the mix, but she’s much further behind in support.
As for Rachel Reeves, the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, she’s not seen as a serious contender. Her approval ratings are low, and many people doubt she could manage the economy well enough to lead the country.
For now, all of this is just talk. Starmer is still firmly in place. But if he does decide to walk away from the job, the options for who might replace him could leave a lot of people uneasy. In fact, after looking at who’s waiting in the wings, some are starting to think it might be better if he stays after all.
