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Keir Starmer’s leadership rivals were jockeying for position tonight after a row over the government’s migrant crackdown exploded. The embattled Prime Minister sparked speculation that he could be on the verge of yet another U-turn as No10 refused to say tough immigration plans will go ahead.

It came in the wake of a bruising attack from his former deputy Angela Rayner – often tipped as a future leader – who branded the overhaul of settlement rules “un-British”. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, another Cabinet member with leadership aspirations, insists the measures to double the time it takes for migrants to qualify for permanent residence from five to 10 years are needed to counter mounting public disquiet.

The reforms would apply to people who have arrived in the UK since 2021.

Ms Rayner, in a speech on Tuesday night, said planned changes would be a “breach of trust”.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, also seen as having leadership ambitions, swiftly backed her, saying the party should “listen” to what she is saying.

But allies of Ms Mahmood hit back, insisting the plans are “entirely consistent with Labour values”.

Another wannabe leader, Wes Streeting, also defended the plans.

Kemi Badenoch, who was responding to Sir Keir’s criticism of her own leadership during PMQs, said: “I’m shocked, because his former deputy has just fired the starting gun on the race to replace him.

“And I’ll tell him one thing, she and I both agree that this weak man should be replaced by a strong woman.”

Despite having one of the biggest Commons majorities in history, Sir Keir has been forced into multiple humiliating climbdowns, including ditching proposed curbs to benefits spending, the winter fuel allowance and the Farm Tax.

Ms Rayner’s intervention came amid mounting signs that Sir Keir’s rivals are positioning to strike.

The former Housing Secretary is reported to have been wooing the City in recent weeks, in an apparent bid to ease concerns she would rack up even more borrowing to splurge on the public sector.

She is also seen as building up a warchest with lucrative speeches and a rumoured £100,000 advance for a memoir.

However, opponents have been trying to undermine her position, pointing out that she has yet to conclude negotiations with HMRC over the unpaid tax that sparked her resignation in September.

One Labour MP told the Express: “This by Angela was the opening salvo. Make no mistake about it, she’s gunning for him now.”

Another MP suggested the PM has “only got weeks left” if, as expected, Labour is destroyed in the upcoming local, regional, Welsh and Scottish elections on May 7.

“You could see during PMQs the fight has totally gone out of Keir. There was nothing and backbenchers knew it – that’s why they weren’t really supporting him.

“It’s seven or eight weeks until the May elections and shortly after that I expect to see someone go over the top.”

A Government spokesperson said: “The Government’s position has not changed.

“We will always welcome those that come to this country and contribute to our national life. But the privilege of living here forever should be earned, not automatic.

“Between 2021 and 2024, this country experienced levels of migration it had historically seen over four decades. We must be honest about the scale and impact of hundreds of thousands of low-skilled migrants getting settlement.

“The Government will double the route to settlement from five to 10 years. As announced in November, we are consulting to apply this change to those in the UK today but have not received settled status. We are currently reviewing the 200,000 responses and will outline our response in due course.”