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Sir Keir Starmer said that he knew MPs were frustrated with his leadership, but pleaded for more time |
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Tony Diver Political Editor |
There will be stony faces around the Cabinet table this morning as Sir Keir Starmer’s ministers meet.
The last time they sat together, before the local elections, the Prime Minister’s position looked dicey, but salvageable. Now, ministers are reportedly preparing to tell Starmer to resign.
Last night, it emerged that Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, was one of at least three Cabinet ministers who had privately told the Prime Minister he should consider his position.
Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, and John Healey, the Defence Secretary, are believed to be the others. David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, was reported to be involved, but his spokesman denied this.
Others in Cabinet are said to disagree with the push for Starmer to go, but the momentum may now be irresistible.
A last ditch effort by the Prime Minister to save his premiership with a “reset” speech backfired yesterday. Seventy-nine Labour MPs have publicly demanded his resignation, including six ministerial aides who quit the Government to join the mutiny. Six new aides were appointed last night.
If Starmer goes, it could be as soon as today, and is likely to be confirmed by an appearance of the fateful lectern on the steps of Downing Street. It was last seen in May 2024, when Rishi Sunak announced in the pouring rain that he was calling a general election.
Luckily for Starmer, today’s forecast in Westminster shows a slim chance of rain |
In the two years that have followed, the Prime Minister has gone from winning a landslide to a precipitous plunge in popularity.
Some of those around the Cabinet table will be thinking about their own next moves. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, is the best-equipped to launch a direct challenge, and would benefit from an earlier contest to replace Starmer.
Mahmood may have moved early to further her own leadership ambitions, but is generally considered too Right-wing to be chosen by the party.
Outside of Cabinet, Angela Rayner would be expected to run. Yesterday, she backed a return to Westminster for Andy Burnham. It fell short of being a tacit endorsement of the Manchester Mayor for leader, possibly because Rayner was unwilling to be seen to have wielded the knife against the Prime Minister.
Angela Rayner has called for Andy Burnham (right) to return to Parliament |
As for Burnham, this may all be moving too fast. He needs to be an MP to run to be party leader. If Starmer does go, the timeline the Prime Minister lays out for his departure is likely to determine the so-called King of the North’s fate too.
Read the full story and follow the latest updates here ➤
Plus, go deeper with our full coverage:
• Gordon Rayner: Delaying Starmer’s departure will fail ➤
• My premiership won’t bring down the economy, Burnham assures bond markets ➤
• Starmer wants to revolutionise Labour by taking Britain back to the 1970s ➤
• Sign up to the Frontbencher newsletter for exclusive analysis of today’s events ➤ |
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Charles Moore With Labour in disarray, the voters who reject both the Greens and Reform should be courted by the two main parties Continue reading ➤
Suzanne Moore Voters have abandoned Labour and Andy Burnham won’t change that Continue reading ➤
Sketch by Tim Stanley Keir 6.0 short-circuits at final abortive reboot Continue reading ➤ |
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A lorry became stuck in a hole as workers went to fix a pothole in a crumbling road in Somerset |
Britain has the highest borrowing costs in the G7 |
As Labour summons the courage to oust Sir Keir Starmer, the danger to the Government’s standing in the bond market also increases.
Britain’s cost of borrowing climbed yesterday, in step with fears of a Left-wing power grab. The question of whether Starmer can cling on may also be a question of fiscal stability.
You can follow the fallout in To Business, The Telegraph’s daily newsletter that acts as your guide to the most important stories moving markets and shaping the business world.
From the Iran war to the AI revolution, we bring you what you need to know before the London market opens, direct to your inbox. To Business includes essential news from our team of specialist reporters and crucial analysis from expert Telegraph writers. There’s room for your views and a bit of gossip, too.
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Germany’s defence expenditure now far outstrips Britain’s |
Germany is on its biggest rearmament drive since the Second World War, and that means it needs guns, lots and lots of guns, writes James Rothwell, Berlin Correspondent. In response, Heckler & Koch, the gunmaker that famously produced the MP5 for the SAS, has ramped up production to arm new recruits in the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces. I travelled to the company’s secretive factory in Oberndorf to learn more. Continue reading ➤ |
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The rise of artificial intelligence has already sent shockwaves through the world of work, and it could have dramatic repercussions for an already fragile housing market. When unemployment spikes, house prices tend to fall off a cliff. Homeowners have been warned that there is a “big iceberg” lurking on the horizon, with repercussions across the spectrum, from renters and first-time buyers to downsizers. Continue reading ➤ |
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Four years after resigning as an ambassador for his beloved Southampton, Matt Le Tissier has returned to an official role at the club |
Matt Le Tissier was known as one of the most gifted and entertaining footballers of his era, but some 24 years after he left his beloved Southampton, “God” (as he is called in certain areas of the south coast) is still making waves. Jeremy Wilson met him to discuss his views on wokeism, how he was cancelled for his public comments and why he turned down Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool in his playing days. Continue reading ➤ |
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Pubs are places to relax, but even relaxation needs rules, writes Will Hawkes. Here, I have revealed the guidelines I believe the country’s drinkers should follow. Queueing at the bar? Not under any circumstances. Tipping the bar staff? Fine, but try not to make a big deal out of it. Mobile phone use? It’s complicated. Read my complete code of conduct here ➤ |
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Lord Inglewood sat in the House of Lords for 36 years and describes leaving as the ‘end of an era’ |
When the new parliamentary session begins, 92 faces will be notably absent. Sir Keir Starmer’s reforms have abruptly ended a 700-year-old mainstay of the British constitution, forcing the final hereditary peers from the House of Lords in what has been described as a “mass execution”. Here, five departing grandees reveal the bitter reality of being “chucked out”. Continue reading ➤ |
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Walk down the cereal aisle of the supermarket and you’ll be surrounded by grand claims on colourful packaging. High in fibre from whole grains! Nine vitamins and minerals! The reality is that these credentials are doubtful, with the contents frequently containing high amounts of sugar, salt and ultra-processed ingredients. To help you out during your next weekly shop, we have reviewed some popular options to see how they measure up for health and taste.
Continue reading ➤
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MaidstoneEvery week, one of our writers argues that their hometown is the best in Britain – but will their case convince you? This week Ed McConnell argues why Maidstone, a town of bewildering contrasts, deserves the top spot.
Maidstone sits on the River Medway, combining picturesque rural surroundings with a rich history |
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Ed McConnell Lead Publisher |
The day before leaving Maidstone for university, I had an epiphany.
Walking along the lanes near my childhood home, past golden fields and chalk-specked downs, I realised it was all quite lovely.
I was so attached to those hills that, after university, I came back, and I haven’t left since.
The pockets of countryside around Kent’s county town will sound alien to someone who has landed in its vape-clouded centre. However, even there it has lots to give.
On Gabriel’s Hill in 1648, outside what is now a Wimpy restaurant, the Battle of Maidstone raged. If you look up while walking along the high street, centuries-old facades are still in evidence.
Alongside the history sits a modern-day town that is a world of contrasts. When I was on the local paper I attached myself limpet-like to the magistrates’ court, where the town’s underbelly heaved. The stories from that drab building weren’t pretty, but as much as anything gave Maidstone its soul.
A young Ed McConnell in his back garden in Maidstone |
Maidstone is one of the few places in the country that still feels like a genuine community. There are a number of proper, traditional pubs scattered around, where everyone knows everyone and most have a link to one of Maidstone’s greatest exports: Barry from EastEnders.
Meanwhile, Tranquil Mote Park is a recurring location in the life story of any Maidstonian. Its playgrounds heave with shrieking toddlers, its bushes shelter sozzled adolescents and the park’s lake throngs with content pensioners. Nearby can be found one of too many tributes to the Maidstone iguanodon, unearthed in 1834, and immortalised in the only town coat of arms featuring a dinosaur.
Maidstone is equal parts beautiful, peculiar and grotty. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
What do you think of Maidstone? Let us know here. |
Cruising out of controlEvery weekday, Orlando Bird, our loyal reader correspondent, shares an off-piste topic that has brought out the best of your opinions and stories. Orlando writes...
Cruises, it seems fair to say, haven’t enjoyed the best press over the past week. Train travel, plane travel, car travel: all present their own considerable risks, of course, from crashes through to chatty fellow passengers. Yet none, to my knowledge, has been accused of serving as a Petri dish for rat-borne pestilence.
For William Sitwell, however, the possibility of contracting hantavirus is merely the “tip of the iceberg”. The real problem with cruises, he argues, is that they are an “obesity-inducing carve-up of the world”, and “not even travel”.
Well, Telegraph readers have had a thing or two to say about that. “I couldn’t disagree more,” countered Eve Wilson. “My husband has mobility issues, so travel is difficult for us. However, we live near Southampton, and cruising enables us to take stress-free holidays. It is true that we don’t leave the ship much, but we encounter many different people on board. The friendliness of the staff, impeccable service and excellent food make these trips memorable. We love them.”
“I enjoy cruises,” added Linda Hepburn. “They are a wonderful way to visit the Norwegian fjords, for instance. In addition, they are a good travel option for anyone who finds airports stressful.”
I’m not particularly drawn to cruises myself, but I must say that the prospect of watching the Northern Lights out on deck might be enough to tempt me.
David J Morley didn’t buy these defences, though, and he spoke from bitter experience. “I often disagree with William Sitwell but his comments about cruise ships certainly make sense. My wife and I have recently returned from Cape Town. During our 17-day voyage, the first 10 days were spent trying to avoid catching a liner-wide gastroenteritis bug, and the final seven suffering from a flu-like virus. No more cruises for us.” Are you a cruise refusenik? Send your responses here and the best of the bunch will feature in a future edition of this newsletter.
Please confirm in your reply that you are happy to be featured and that we have your permission to use your name. |
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The Royal Navy is redesigning its female uniform at a cost of £200,000. What is said to be wrong with the current design?
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Find as many words as you can in today’s Panagram, including the nine-letter solution. Visit Telegraph Puzzles to play a range of head-scratching games, including PlusWord, Sorted, and Quick, Mini or Cryptic Crosswords.
Yesterday’s Panagram was PAPERWORK. Come back tomorrow for the solution to today’s puzzle. |
Thank you for reading. Have a fulfilling day and I hope to see you tomorrow. Chris Evans, Editor
P.S. I’d love to hear what you think of this newsletter. You can email me your feedback here. |
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