Keir Starmer set for fierce standoff with leadership rivals as more resignations loom

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May 13, 2026 - 20:28

Keir Starmer set for fierce standoff with leadership rivals as more resignations loom

Sir Keir Starmer is set for a fierce standoff with numerous leadership rivals as more Labour resignations are expected.

Amid the race to topple the Prime Minister, five main candidates are reportedly setting their eyes on Downing Street.

Wes Streeting is preparing to resign and trigger a leadership contest tomorrow, allies of the Health Secretary have claimed, with Ed Miliband also said to put his name forward.

Lucy Powell, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, has also been tipped as a successor to Sir Keir but is unlikely to challenge the PM directly.

According to Sky News, her allies believe she would remain loyal to Sir Keir in a bid to be appointed as Deputy PM, a position currently held by David Lammy.

It is understood Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner are eyeing the top job, but both face immediate issues that could prevent them from entering the race.

The Greater Manchester Mayor, who first stood for the Labour leadership in 2010, is mulling over a return to Westminster after leaving the House of Commons in 2017.

Mr Burnham needs a sympathetic Labour backbencher to step down and hope Labour's National Executive Committee will not block him from standing in the by-election.

He was initially blocked by Labour's NEC from standing in February's Gorton & Denton by-election, with the Greens later securing a seismic victory and Reform UK finishing in distant second place.

Ms Rayner’s ability to launch a political challenge against the PM is hindered by an unresolved HMRC investigation and her resignation from the Cabinet.

Despite the leadership rivals now circling No10, Sir Keir has vowed to fight on against the 87 Labour MPs who have called on him to step down.