Starmer facing ‘inevitable’ leadership challenge – Labour MPs turn on ‘lame duck’ boss

“Labour’s leadership needs to urgently change direction.

“It should start by championing the popular policies in our recent manifestos – backed by a large majority of voters.”

Another MP labelled the leader a “lame duck”, warning of a leadership challenge to come.

“You’ll begin to see his authority wane and the big fish manoeuvre quite disrespectfully around the still-moving carcass,” they told Politico.

Criticising Sir Keir’s push for the party to be seen as more patriotic, Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said: “Good to see valueless flag-waving and suit-wearing working so well.”

Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer beat Labour’s Dr Paul Williams – an avid Remainer and second-referendum campaigner during his time as MP for Stockton South from 2017-19 – with a majority of nearly 7,000 in the by-election.

The result represents a swing of over 10,000 votes to the Tories in the seat since the 2019 vote.

A rift through Labour has opened up following the loss of Hartlepool. While MPs on the left of the party are demanding a change in leadership and a more radical policy agenda, allies of Sir Keir are calling for quicker change.

Admitting the Hartlepool defeat has been “heart-breaking”, shadow communities secretary Steve Reed said: “It tells us that the pace of change in the Labour Party has not been fast enough.

“We have a breach of trust between too much of the British electorate and the Labour Party, and we haven’t done enough to repair it over the past year.”

A Labour source added Sir Keir would take responsibility for the result but claimed the loss was due to a failure to move to the centre quickly enough, and did not represent a need to return to the policies adopted under Mr Corbyn’s leadership.

Source: Express.co.uk