Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure from within his own party following the fallout from the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the United States.
The controversy centres on Starmer’s admission on Wednesday that he was aware, at the time of Mandelson’s appointment, that official security vetting had raised concerns about the former Labour peer’s continued contact with Jeffrey Epstein after the financier’s conviction for child sex offences.
Starmer said Mandelson had misled him about the nature of the relationship, presenting Epstein as someone he “barely knew”.
Labour MPs have questioned how Mandelson was approved for one of the Government’s most sensitive diplomatic posts, with anger increasingly directed at No 10 and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who was closely involved in the transition into government and supported the appointment.
The issue has triggered calls from backbenchers and some senior figures for changes at the top of Downing Street.
The i Paper has reported since November that Labour MPs were becoming increasingly restless over what they saw as poor communication and weak leadership from No 10.
That discontent has intensified since the Mandelson row, with MPs now openly questioning Starmer’s judgement and authority as Prime Minister.
Starmer narrowly avoided a wider Commons rebellion after agreeing to change the process for releasing documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment, allowing Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee to oversee what material can be published.
Pressure has continued, however, with dozens of MPs backing calls for a public inquiry into Epstein’s links to figures in the British establishment.
The episode has reopened internal discussion within Labour about Starmer’s leadership, with MPs debating what steps the Prime Minister may now take to stabilise his position.
How could Starmer be removed?
Labour’s rules make it significantly harder to remove a sitting leader than in the Conservative Party, where MPs can trigger a confidence vote through the submission of no-confidence letters.
There is no formal mechanism for Labour MPs to force a leader to resign. The most straightforward route would be for Starmer to step down voluntarily, either under sustained pressure from Cabinet colleagues and backbenchers or following a major political defeat, such as a disastrous set of election results.
A resignation would automatically trigger a leadership contest. Candidates would need to secure nominations from at least 20 per cent of Labour MPs – currently around 80 – before appearing on the ballot.
They would also need to demonstrate wider party support, either by winning the backing of at least five per cent of constituency Labour parties or securing endorsements from affiliated organisations such as trade unions.
Keir Starmer revealed that he knew about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (Photo: Carl Court/PA)If more than one candidate qualified, the contest would be decided by Labour members, affiliated trade unionists and registered supporters using a preferential voting system, with candidates eliminated in rounds until one received more than 50 per cent of the vote.
The alternative route is for MPs to attempt a direct challenge while Starmer remains in post. In that scenario, a rival candidate would again need the support of 80 MPs to trigger a contest. Starmer would automatically be placed on the ballot as the incumbent leader.
This approach was attempted in 2016, when Labour MPs sought to remove Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn refused to resign, remained on the ballot and went on to win the leadership contest with 62 per cent of the vote among party members, a precedent frequently cited by Labour figures as a cautionary example.
Who could replace him?
Angela Rayner – The former deputy prime minister retains strong support among trade unions and party members despite resigning from government over a tax dispute last year.
Her prominent role in forcing changes to the Government’s handling of the Mandelson documents has reinforced perceptions of her influence within the Parliamentary Labour Party. Allies see her as a unifying figure, though critics question whether her recent resignation would hinder a leadership bid.
Wes Streeting – The Health Secretary is widely viewed as a potential successor and has long been associated with Labour’s modernising wing. He is a confident media performer and has sought to position himself as a reformer in government.
However, he faces resistance from the party’s Left and holds a narrow majority in his Ilford North seat, which could complicate any leadership campaign.
There is no formal mechanism for Labour MPs to force a leader to resign (Photo: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)Andy Burnham – The Mayor of Greater Manchester remains one of Labour’s most popular figures nationally and continues to outpoll Starmer in personal approval ratings.
Under Labour rules, however, he would need to return to Parliament before standing, a route that was recently blocked after he was denied the chance to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Shabana Mahmood – The Home Secretary has been mentioned as a contender by those who believe Labour needs to win back voters drifting to Reform UK.
Her record at the Home Office and firm stance on immigration appeal to parts of the party, but place her on the right of Labour’s internal spectrum, potentially limiting her support among members.
Ed Miliband – The Environment Secretary has regained prominence as the Government’s leading advocate for green investment and net zero. He remains popular with Labour members and retains leadership experience from his time at the helm of the party.
Questions remain, however, about whether he represents a sufficiently fresh start after leading Labour to defeat in 2015.
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