Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure inside Labour after Ed Miliband privately suggested the Prime Minister should consider setting out a timetable for his departure following what party figures fear could be catastrophic election losses.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the Energy Secretary raised the issue during a private meeting with Starmer around two weeks ago as alarm spreads within Labour over the scale of the party’s expected collapse in local elections across England, Wales and Scotland.
While Miliband is said to remain publicly loyal to Starmer, allies say he is deeply worried Labour could descend into a brutal leadership war if the Prime Minister is forced out suddenly after the results. Senior figures fear a chaotic battle for control of the party could further damage Labour at a time when support is already haemorrhaging to Reform UK, the Greens and independent candidates.
Labour insiders believe the party is heading towards one of its worst sets of election results in decades. In Wales, where Labour has dominated politics for more than 100 years, the party is feared to be on course to finish third. Similar concerns exist in Scotland, while Labour could reportedly lose up to 1,800 councillors in England.
The expected fallout has already intensified speculation over who could replace Starmer if pressure mounts for him to resign.
Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting are both believed to have enough support among Labour MPs to trigger a formal leadership contest. Under Labour rules, candidates need the backing of 81 MPs to enter the race.
Rayner is reportedly weighing up whether to launch a bid despite an unresolved HMRC investigation into whether she paid the correct amount of stamp duty on a property in Hove. Allies insist she is prepared to run if the opportunity arises and believe she would secure the required nominations from MPs.
At the same time, figures on Labour’s soft left are increasingly rallying behind Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as a possible unity candidate capable of stabilising the party.
Miliband is viewed by allies as a key supporter of a potential Burnham leadership bid, although the former Labour leader has ruled himself out of standing himself. Burnham is understood to have privately told supporters that a Labour backbench MP could soon resign their seat to allow him to return to Westminster.
Several Labour MPs on Merseyside and in Greater Manchester are said to have been informed that an announcement facilitating Burnham’s return to Parliament could come within days. Marie Rimmer, the 79 year old MP for St Helens South and Whiston, has been mentioned by colleagues as a possible candidate to step aside, though Burnham has dismissed the claims as “fiction”.
Behind the scenes, senior Labour figures are increasingly worried that a direct leadership challenge against Starmer could spiral into a damaging factional conflict. Supporters of Burnham fear a contest involving Streeting could quickly trigger a rival challenge from Rayner, leading to a chaotic power struggle at the top of government.
Instead, some within the party are reportedly pushing for Starmer to announce his own timetable for departure in order to allow what they see as a more orderly transition. That would also give Burnham time to return to Parliament before any formal succession battle begins.
Despite the speculation, Starmer is said to remain firmly opposed to any plan setting out a resignation timeline and is understood to be actively resisting attempts to pave the way for a Burnham comeback.
A source close to Miliband denied claims he was in despair over Labour’s situation, insisting he had been actively campaigning and supporting Starmer ahead of the elections.
A spokesperson for Miliband declined to comment on private discussions but rejected parts of the reported account. “Ed has always supported the Prime Minister and continues to do so as he delivers on his mandate for change,” the spokesperson said.
However, the reports are likely to deepen questions over Starmer’s authority as Labour braces for a potentially devastating set of election results and mounting unrest inside the party.