𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andrew Neil accused No 10 of a “pathetic defection” after Sir Keir Starmer’s allies warned ousting him could trigger a general election. The Prime Minister is under pressure after briefings from Downing Street sparked a leadership war.

Sir Keir’s allies warned that Labour plotters could force an early election if they get rid of him. But Mr Neil branded the No 10 operation as a “desperate shambles” as he warned that replacing Sir Keir is unlikely to improve Labour’s fortunes as the party languishes in the polls.

The veteran broadcaster wrote on X: “Downing Street now spinning that if Labour changes leaders there will have to be a general election.

“Pathetic deflection — a political and constitutional nonsense. Just ask the Tories.

Of course changing PMs won’t necessarily improve Labour’s popularity — just as the Tories.

“Downing Street operation is a desperate shambles.”

The warning from No 10 follows a day of chaos yesterday after the cloak-and-dagger briefings.

One source told the Daily Mail: “In the modern age, you need your own mandate. We saw under the Tories – and even with Gordon [Brown] – that the public hate the idea that political parties can stitch up the choice of a new PM without them.

“Anyone thinking of moving against Keir should consider that very carefully.”

Sir Keir was forced to apologise to Health Secretary Wes Streeting for anonymous attacks from No 10 that he was plotting a coup.

The row has thrown the future of the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney into question, as fingers are pointed for the fallout from the apparent ploy to warn off potential leadership contenders.