𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Keir Starmer’s Downing Street allies have launched a desperate rearguard action to save the embattled Prime Minister from being booted out of No 10 in the wake of the looming tax-hiking Budget or a crushing defeat in next May’s elections.

Panic has gripped the heart of government as the backlash over the impending tax rises, set to be unleashed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves later this month, threatens to engulf Sir Keir, even before the painful measures have been formally announced.

Labour is also staring down the barrel of a potential bloodbath in the Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections, while the party could even lose its iron grip on Birmingham, the UK’s largest local authority, in a devastating blow.

Insiders say there is mounting alarm in No 10 that Health Secretary Wes Streeting is waiting in the wings to seize the top job if Sir Keir is forced to fall on his sword, although Mr Streeting has vehemently denied being part of any plot to oust his boss.

In a frantic bid to shore up the Prime Minister’s position, his loyal lieutenants are arguing that toppling him now would be a “reckless” and “dangerous” move that could send shockwaves through the public finances, pushing up borrowing costs and damaging Britain’s special relationship with key allies like the US.

Click here for the full storyPanic for Keir Starmer as No 10 desperately tries to save PM from plot to oust him