Labour tensions grow as deputy leadership race looms

Keir Starmer is under pressure from senior Labour figures to avoid further missteps, with warnings that the government risks alienating its own base just as a Labour deputy leadership contest is about to begin.

The fallout comes after Angela Rayner’s departure as deputy leader, sparking manoeuvring among potential successors. Emily Thornberry, tipped as a contender, warned that further mistakes could “hand our country to [Nigel] Farage”, while Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham called for a “reset” in Starmer’s leadership style.

Burnham, who cannot run himself, has backed either Louise Haigh or Lucy Powell, both recently dismissed from the cabinet, to step into the role. He also urged Labour to be “more inclusive, more pluralistic”, saying the party must draw on all parts of its base to withstand pressure from Nigel Farage’s Reform party, now climbing in the polls.

Alongside the leadership tensions, unions have raised alarm over speculation that the government might water down Angela Rayner’s proposed employment rights bill. Justin Madders, who lost his job in the reshuffle, said it would be “really, really foolish” for the government to roll back on promises such as protections against unfair dismissal.

Starmer’s office insists the bill will still go ahead, and Business Secretary Peter Kyle has reportedly called union leaders to offer reassurances. The Trades Union Congress has urged the government to implement the legislation “in full”, while Unite the Union has warned that any retreat would leave workers “seeking other answers”.

The reshuffle itself has deepened divisions. MPs say the promotions favoured figures on the right of the party such as Shabana Mahmood, Pat McFadden and Peter Kyle. One Labour source described it as “groupthink”, warning that responsibility for the party’s direction now rests solely with Starmer’s inner circle.

Emily Thornberry told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that voters “hear about the mistakes” and questioned why the party was repeating them. She pointed to Labour’s sharp drop in polling as a sign the leadership must listen more closely to both MPs and the public.

Meanwhile, Burnham is backing a new grassroots political network, supported by the thinktank Compass, which is preparing a motion to abolish the two-child benefit cap and push for wider reform at party conference.

The deputy leadership race is expected to attract a wide field of candidates. Those discussed include cabinet members such as David Lammy, Lisa Nandy and Shabana Mahmood; former ministers like Louise Haigh and Lucy Powell; and backbench MPs including Jess Phillips, Stella Creasy and Dawn Butler. Richard Burgon and Nadia Whittome are among possible candidates from the party’s left.

The timetable for the contest will be set by Labour’s National Executive Committee on Monday. MPs are already lobbying colleagues to gauge support, with one MP tipping Jess Phillips as “an ideal successor to Angela [Rayner] — brave, strong, principled, and a great communicator”.

Starmer is set to chair his reshaped cabinet on Tuesday, with the meeting focused solely on the government’s plans to grow the economy. But with divisions widening and the deputy leadership contest likely to expose them further, the weeks ahead could prove a serious test of his authority.

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