Labour Leadership Contest: Starmer's Grip on Power at Risk
A shocking new poll has revealed that four top Labour figures could potentially challenge Keir Starmer for the party leadership. A head-to-head contest between Starmer and his potential rivals, including former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, would see Burnham and Rayner emerge victorious by considerable margins.
The research conducted by Survation for LabourList found that if a leadership contest were to take place, it's likely that only one of the three contenders could actually win. Meanwhile, 54% of Labour members believe the party should be on the lookout for new leaders before the next general election.
Interestingly, this sentiment is mirrored among those who backed Starmer in the recent deputy leadership contest. 69% of Lucy Powell supporters and 51% of Bridget Phillipson supporters want to see a new leader come in within the next five years, revealing a deep-seated desire for change within the party.
Burnham's chances would be significantly boosted if he were to return to Westminster as an MP, giving him a decisive 26-point lead over Starmer. On the other hand, Rayner's bid for the leadership would also prove unbeatable, with her securing a 19-point advantage.
However, there is still some uncertainty around Streeting's chances, as his result was within the margin of error and could be seen as effectively level pegging with Starmer. Both candidates would need to convince the 36% of members who are unsure who to back in order to take control of the party leadership.
LabourList editor Emma Burnell believes that if a leadership contest were to occur, Starmer's team would likely claim it was too damaging for the party and may choose not to participate. This raises questions about whether Starmer is willing to step aside and make way for fresh faces within the party.
The implications of this poll are significant, with many Labour insiders now speculating that Burnham or Rayner could be on course for a leadership challenge. As for Streeting, his health secretary status may ultimately prove crucial in determining his chances β if he can manage to win over the undecided 36% and deliver convincing performances at key moments, then perhaps he could just edge out Starmer after all.
The Labour leadership contest is far from over, but with a potential challenge brewing on the horizon, it remains to be seen whether Keir Starmer's grip on power will be tested.
A shocking new poll has revealed that four top Labour figures could potentially challenge Keir Starmer for the party leadership. A head-to-head contest between Starmer and his potential rivals, including former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, would see Burnham and Rayner emerge victorious by considerable margins.
The research conducted by Survation for LabourList found that if a leadership contest were to take place, it's likely that only one of the three contenders could actually win. Meanwhile, 54% of Labour members believe the party should be on the lookout for new leaders before the next general election.
Interestingly, this sentiment is mirrored among those who backed Starmer in the recent deputy leadership contest. 69% of Lucy Powell supporters and 51% of Bridget Phillipson supporters want to see a new leader come in within the next five years, revealing a deep-seated desire for change within the party.
Burnham's chances would be significantly boosted if he were to return to Westminster as an MP, giving him a decisive 26-point lead over Starmer. On the other hand, Rayner's bid for the leadership would also prove unbeatable, with her securing a 19-point advantage.
However, there is still some uncertainty around Streeting's chances, as his result was within the margin of error and could be seen as effectively level pegging with Starmer. Both candidates would need to convince the 36% of members who are unsure who to back in order to take control of the party leadership.
LabourList editor Emma Burnell believes that if a leadership contest were to occur, Starmer's team would likely claim it was too damaging for the party and may choose not to participate. This raises questions about whether Starmer is willing to step aside and make way for fresh faces within the party.
The implications of this poll are significant, with many Labour insiders now speculating that Burnham or Rayner could be on course for a leadership challenge. As for Streeting, his health secretary status may ultimately prove crucial in determining his chances β if he can manage to win over the undecided 36% and deliver convincing performances at key moments, then perhaps he could just edge out Starmer after all.
The Labour leadership contest is far from over, but with a potential challenge brewing on the horizon, it remains to be seen whether Keir Starmer's grip on power will be tested.