The state of play currently:
- Rayner’s first public remarks since Labour’s local election defeat: She calls on Starmer to end a “toxic culture of cronyism.”
- Says Labour must tack left: “What we are doing isn’t working, and it needs to change. This may be our last chance.”
- Warns Labour is “in danger of becoming a party of the well-off, not working people.“
- Explicitly calls for Andy Burnham to return to Westminster: FT says she may back him as a successor rather than standing herself…
- Some on the Labour right think Rayner couldn’t win a contest due to the unresolved HMRC dispute.
- Catherine West still suggesting she will launch a challenge on Monday – she only needs to tell the NEC.
- Wes Streeting has reportedly told No10 he is readying himself to challenge Starmer but still insists he won’t wield the knife.
- Andy Burnham’s team is desperately trying to prevent a challenge taking place in the next few weeks. He still isn’t an MP…
- Starmer is still working on his speech for tomorrow. No10 insists he will fight a leadership challenge…
- MPs are still going over the top calling for Starmer to go. Including former Labour Together director Josh Simons…
- Reeves and her Solicitor General sister had an argument about Burnham at a children’s birthday party.
Starmer has trailed his speech in the Observer by claiming he will be PM for ten years. This has gone down like a cup of cold sick with the PLP. All to play for…
