Keir Starmer 'already fighting leadership election' as PM's allies goad rivals to mount challenge

No10 is said to have now gone into "full bunker mode", with critics claiming the Prime Minister's allies have ramped up briefings against his rivals.

Downing Street was accused of having a "toxic" culture earlier this year amid briefings against Angela Rayner, Lucy Powell and Lisa Nandy.

However, Sir Keir's allies told The Times he will not resign in the event of any attempt to remove him and would contest any leadership contest triggered by Labour MPs.

The Prime Minister's supporters even suggested Sir Keir is "already fighting the leadership election" with outreach to Labour backbenchers.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood have both been accused of plotting against the Prime Minister.

Ms Rayner is expected to emerge as the "kingmaker" in any potential race to replace Sir Keir.

But a spokesman for Mr Streeting dismissed rumours of his leadership ambition as "categorically untrue".

Despite speculation of a challenge in May, Labour rules remain far more stringent than those adopted by the Conservative Party, making it more of a challenge for the parliamentary party to topple Sir Keir.

However, 80 MPs could initiate a Labour leadership election.

Candidates must secure the backing of major trade unions or constituency parties before a vote goes to Labour's declining grassroots membership base.

Jeremy Corbyn faced a similar test in the wake of the Brexit referendum in 2016 when he lost a confidence vote by 172 votes to 40.

After refusing to resign, the now-disgraced former Labour leader won the subsequent membership vote in a landslide.

An ally of the Prime Minister told The Times: "Keir knows he is already fighting a leadership contest. When it comes, he won’t resign. He will fight it. He thinks it’s fantasy politics."

While parliamentary pressure forced Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss out of No10, no Labour leader has been successfully ousted from office mid-term.

Sir Keir's leadership rivals are expected to adopt a more left-wing approach than the Prime Minister in the event of a leadership contest, with attacks against Donald Trump and a commitment to rejoin the European Union appearing increasingly likely.

Labour is expected to face an electoral drubbing at next year's Local Elections, with defeat in the recent Caerphilly by-election serving as a warning about the challenge in Wales.

Reform UK is expected to hoover up yet more seats across England, Scotland and Wales, with nationalists and left-wing parties also poised to make inroads.

However, the Prime Minister staved off a short-lived challenge from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham at this year's Labour Party conference.

Meanwhile, Mr Streeting left Liverpool having left his mark, with one ally telling GB News: "Everyone's focused on Andy Burnham, but Wes has been making a lot of subtle moves in recent weeks."

Despite securing a landslide victory in the 2024 General Election, a majority of Britons now want Sir Keir to resign as Prime Minister.

A survey conducted by Opinium found more than half of the public - 56 per cent - think the Prime Minister should quit, with just 26 per cent wanting Sir Keir to stay in post.

Labour voters have also turned on the Prime Minister since the General Election, with a third now wanting Sir Keir to leave No10 and just 52 per cent supporting the Holborn & St Pancras MP.