Starmer warned of leadership challenge as Budget anxiety grows

Labour MPs are discussing whether to trigger a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer in a matter of weeks, citing growing concern over the party’s direction and its handling of the economy.

May’s local elections, where Labour is expected to lose heavily, were being suggested as a trigger point for a leadership challenge.

But a senior Labour source told The i Paper there was “a cohort in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) who think moving against Keir [Starmer] after the Budget is feasible rather than waiting until after May” to stem the losses to the party’s election machine in the local elections.

“The thinking is if you’re likely to lose a bunch of foot soldiers in the locals, you’ll have fewer people to support you holding on to your seat,” the source said. New Feature