Key Takeaways:
- The Labour Party is preparing for a potential change in leadership, with Labour Together canvassing party members on candidates to replace Sir Keir Starmer.
- A survey sent to local Labour parties asked members to name politicians who stand the best chance of leading Labour to electoral victory and rank their preferred candidates in a leadership election.
- Eight senior Labour politicians were named in the survey, including Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood, and Andy Burnham.
- The survey also asked members to place each politician on a "left-right scale" and provide their views on various policy areas, including Gaza, housing, and climate change.
- The results of the survey will be conveyed to the party leadership and may influence the party’s strategy in the event of a leadership election.
Introduction to the Labour Party’s Leadership Crisis
The Labour Party is facing a potential crisis in leadership, with speculation mounting that Sir Keir Starmer may be replaced as prime minister. In a clear indication that the party is preparing for a change, Labour Together, a think tank closely linked to Starmer’s leadership campaign, has sent a survey to local Labour parties asking members to name their preferred candidates to replace him. The survey, which was seen by The Times, asked members to rank their preferred candidates in a leadership election and provide their views on various policy areas.
The Survey and Its Implications
The survey, which closes on December 15, asked members to name the politicians who stand the best chance of leading Labour to electoral victory at the next general election. Eight senior Labour politicians were named in the survey, including Wes Streeting, the health secretary; Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary; Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary; Ed Miliband, the energy secretary; and Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister. The survey also asked members to place each politician on a "left-right scale" of "very left wing" to "very right wing". The results of the survey will be conveyed to the party leadership and may influence the party’s strategy in the event of a leadership election.
The Potential Candidates
The survey named eight senior Labour politicians as potential candidates to replace Starmer. These include Wes Streeting, who was recently accused of briefing against the prime minister; Shabana Mahmood, who is considered a rising star in the party; and Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester. Other potential candidates named in the survey include Bridget Phillipson, Ed Miliband, and Darren Jones. The survey also asked members to rank their preferred candidates in a leadership election, with hypothetical head-to-head matchups including Phillipson versus Burnham and Rayner versus Streeting.
The Role of Labour Together
Labour Together, the think tank that ran Starmer’s leadership campaign, has close links to Downing Street and has been called the only "Starmerite" think tank. The group has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on internal polling and has been instrumental in shaping the party’s policy agenda. The survey is likely to give Labour Together a near-comprehensive insight into the views and composition of the membership, which is notoriously difficult to poll conventionally. The information would be invaluable to any politician planning to stand to replace Starmer, but there is no suggestion it was solicited on behalf of any one candidate by Labour Together.
The Broader Implications
The survey and the speculation surrounding Starmer’s leadership have significant implications for the Labour Party and its future direction. The party is facing a potential crisis in leadership, with some members calling for a change in direction and others loyal to Starmer. The survey and the potential candidates named in it may influence the party’s strategy in the event of a leadership election and may shape the party’s policy agenda in the coming months. The Unite trade union, which is considering calling an emergency conference to vote on whether it should remain affiliated to Labour, may also play a significant role in the party’s future direction.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Labour Party is facing a potential crisis in leadership, with speculation mounting that Sir Keir Starmer may be replaced as prime minister. The survey sent by Labour Together to local Labour parties is a clear indication that the party is preparing for a change and may influence the party’s strategy in the event of a leadership election. The potential candidates named in the survey, including Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood, and Andy Burnham, may shape the party’s future direction and policy agenda. The results of the survey and the broader implications of the leadership crisis will be closely watched in the coming months.