'What leadership race?' Labour Treasury Chief Secretary rubbishes challenges to Keir Starmer

Labour’s Chief Secretary of the Treasury has rubbished the threat of a leadership race to oust Keir Starmer.

Speaking to GB News, James Murray insisted the Prime Minister would fight any challenge and cautioned against infighting.

At least 93 Labour backbenchers have demanded Sir Keir step down following devastating local election results.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Wes Streeting is thought to be poised to resign, triggering a leadership contest while fellow frontrunner Andy Burnham is said to be seeking a seat in Parliment to launch a bid.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

Angela Rayner, another potential hopeful, has also been cleared over the stamp duty scandal, which saw her step down as Deputy Prime Minister, opening the way for a challenge.

Amid the chaos, GB News Breakfast Host Stephen Dixon asked Mr Murray: “The starting pistol's been fired on this now, hasn't it?”

“On what? Sorry,” the Labour Treasury Chief responded.

“Oh, Come on! On the leadership election.”

“No, there's been no leadership election triggered,” Mr Murray shot back.

“I think having a leadership election would be the wrong choice for us to take as a party,” he declared.

“It would bring huge instability, and it would mean that we would be looking inward as a party.

“What we should be doing is tackling the challenges that people are facing, what people are telling us of their priorities about the cost of living, about getting NHS waiting lists down, about making sure we're getting the Strait of Hormuz reopened.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Labour on brink of civil war as Keir Starmer braces for five-way scramble for power
• Angela Rayner is CLEARED over stamp duty scandal by HMRC just in time for Labour leadership bid
• Labour leadership contest explained: How challenger could OUST Keir Starmer as PM faces battle today

“These are the kind of things we should be focused on, and that's our responsibility,” the Ealing North MP said.

Despite the denial, Mr Murray insisted that Sir Keir would take on all potential challengers.

“The Prime Minister said himself on Monday that if there were a leadership election, he would stand in it, win, and continue as Prime Minister.

“I think what's important for me is to emphasise that I think having a leadership election would be the wrong choice for us to take.”

Stephen asked: “The bottom line is if you don't change your leader, you're not going to win the next election, are you?”

“We will win the next election by delivering on what we promised to do at the last general election,” the Labour Treasury Chief answered.

“The results in the local elections last week were clear that people are frustrated.

“That's why we need to make sure we meet what people expect us to do and deliver the change that we promised.

Mr Murray was then pressed on the possibility that Angela Rayner could now enter the leadership race.

“Angela is a friend of mine, and on a personal level, I'm really pleased for her that this has been cleared up.

“I haven't seen the full details, but I know how stressful it will have been for her, as it would be for anyone facing this kind of investigation.

“So on a personal level, I'm really pleased for her that it's been cleared up."

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter