STORY
John McDonnell has accused Wes Streeting of launching a “coup” against Sir Keir Starmer as Labour’s internal crisis deepened following the party’s poor local election results.
The former shadow chancellor said Streeting was moving against the Prime Minister because he feared a full democratic leadership process that could allow other candidates, including Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, to enter the contest. In a post on X, McDonnell said he had called for “time for serious discussion, no precipitous coup” and a fully democratic process if there was to be a leadership election.
McDonnell said Streeting had instead “launched” a coup while other possible candidates were blocked from standing. He also described the Health Secretary as “Mandelson’s protege” and warned that handing him the leadership would be a “gift to Reform”. Streeting’s allies strongly rejected the accusation, with the Evening Standard reporting that they pointed to the Labour left having moved first against Starmer.
The intervention came ahead of a critical Cabinet meeting, with Starmer fighting to remain in office after more than 70 Labour MPs called for him to resign or set out a timetable for departure. Sky News reported that ministers were meeting as the Prime Minister faced pressure from inside his own Government, while Miatta Fahnbulleh became the first minister to resign and publicly urge him to go.