Infighting Erupts Within Labor Party as MP Calls for Leadership Change

The first member of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s left-leaning Labor Party has openly criticized Downing Street and is calling for the party’s resignation. Clive Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, has distanced himself from Downing Street, indicating internal strife within the left faction of the party.

In a recent interview with Channel 4, Lewis remarked that Starmer’s leadership is becoming increasingly unsustainable. He suggested that to move forward, the party should include Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham as a parliamentary member, setting him up as a potential future prime minister.

“Frankly, that’s intolerable. We need to prioritize the country over party politics and personal ambitions,” Lewis stated. “I can’t quite grasp how we keep spiraling without any clear solution in sight.”

He continued, “The great folks in the Labor Party should seriously consider how we can bring Andy Burnham back into parliament and prepare him to step up as the next prime minister.”

Lewis acknowledged that his view is personal and may not resonate with everyone, but feels he has no option left.

Burnham, with experience serving in Tony Blair’s and Gordon Brown’s administrations, has spent the last ten years as mayor of Greater Manchester. He’s made strides to reshape his image as someone within the Westminster sphere, having previously run for Labor leader. He hinted last September about possibly stepping in to replace Starmer.

Simultaneously, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner seems to be advancing her own strategy. Reports indicate she may be offering top government positions to secure support among MPs in the House of Commons. This comes after her resignation as housing secretary due to revelations regarding unpaid property taxes on a holiday home.

The situation has been exacerbated by a chaotic week, marked by internal conflicts at Downing Street. Rumors surfaced that Health Secretary Wes Street was considering a coup against Starmer. However, Street has firmly denied these claims. Starmer has announced an investigation to uncover who leaked unfavorable information about the Health Secretary.

In another setback, Chancellor Rachel Reeves had to abandon plans for an income tax increase, fearing that it might alienate voters who have shifted their support to other parties, such as the growing Greens and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Party, which currently leads in polls.

Research from Opinium revealed that Farage is viewed as more trustworthy in managing Britain’s economy compared to other leading politicians, whereas Starmer and Reeves were ranked the least trusted. The poll also indicated that 56% of voters believe Starmer should resign.

Support for Starmer’s Labor Party has plummeted since its significant majority win in last year’s general election. The Reform Party now holds a considerable lead in opinion polls and is expected to perform well in the next general election.