UK PM Starmer insists govt 'united' as plot rumours swirl

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted on Wednesday (Nov 12) he runs a "united team" after a senior minister was forced to repeatedly deny that he planned to oust the embattled premier.

Starmer's comments came after Downing Street sources said Britain's leader would fight off any leadership challenge, as a briefing war exposed tensions at the heart of the beleaguered government.

Rumours are swirling in the UK parliament that some ministers are plotting to challenge Starmer following a budget due later this month, in which Labour is expected to break manifesto promises.

"This is a united team," he told parliament, adding that he was focused on "rebuilding the country".

Earlier, health minister Wes Streeting told Sky News that he was "not going" to demand Starmer's resignation, adding: "I support the prime minister. I have done since he was elected leader of the Labour Party."

Streeting, 42, is considered one of Labour's better performers and has long been touted as a potential replacement for Starmer, among others including interior minister Shabana Mahmood.

The health minister's denial, repeated to other broadcasters, followed anonymous briefings by Starmer allies who told journalists he would fight any bid to replace him, in what appeared to be an attempt to warn them off.

A person close to Mahmood told AFP that suggestions she was involved in a leadership plot were "nonsense".

Starmer told parliament that attacks on any of his cabinet members were "completely unacceptable" and said Streeting was doing a "great job".

"The government has descended into civil war," said opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.

DIFFICULT BUDGET LOOMS

Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory over the Conservatives in July last year, returning the centre-left party to power for the first time in 14 years.

But his government's poll ratings and his personal standing among the British public have nosedived due to struggles on key issues such as economic growth and irregular immigration.

Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party has been leading by double-digit margins in many national polls for much of this year.

The next general election is not expected until 2029, but the government faces an important test at local elections in May 2026.

First, Starmer must navigate a difficult budget on Nov 26, when finance minister Rachel Reeves is expected to raise taxes for workers despite a pre-election pledge not to do so.

A challenge for the Labour Party leadership would require the support of 20 per cent of its MPs, which would currently require 80 nominations.

Some Labour MPs fear a contest would plunge the party into similar chaos experienced by the Conservatives, who cycled through five leaders between 2016 and 2022 as it fought amongst itself.

A backbench Labour MP told AFP that the party should focus on governing and trying to claw back support from Reform.

"We have a commanding majority, a clear timeline until the next election and a compelling narrative of fixing the country after 14 years of damage and decay, including through Farage and the Tories' Brexit mess," they said.

But another, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was widespread belief amongst MPs that Starmer, 63, would not lead the party into the next election.