Yet in acting ruthlessly, the usually-cautious Starmer — who is officially citing the additional costs of fighting a mayoral race — has already sparked a fierce internal backlash.
Five Labour MPs told POLITICO a letter is being organized calling on Starmer to allow the wider 39-strong NEC to have another say. The move would allow a rethink among a wider group of officers, ranging from senior union figures to MPs and constituency parties that are less under No.10’s control. There would, however, be no guarantee that they’d reach a different conclusion — and the move would be bound to extend the row over Burnham.
One MP said the letter addressed to Starmer has amassed more than 50 signatures so far, including from “quite prominent” figures. Like others in this article, they were granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive subject threatening to roil the party.
“I will probably sign the letter because Andy has always had my back but it is pointless. As if they (No.10) care one percent — they are brutal,” said a second MP, who also sits on the party’s soft left. “But I think it hastens Keir’s demise.”
Even if signatories of the letter think it’ll have little chance of succeeding, there is a sense that Starmer’s power move may well backfire. Prominent potential Starmer challengers who already have their seats in parliament are seen as the big benefactors.
“My view is that it’s the end of Starmer and Wes will be PM in seven months,” said a third MP, in a reference to Wes Streeting, the ambitious health secretary who the PM’s allies have previously linked to a leadership bid.