𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Labour MPs have demanded a halt to the “endless drama” of leadership speculation ahead of an expected local election bloodbath.

Backbenchers told how briefings about how and when Sir Keir Starmer could be toppled were putting off voters, who had disliked the Conservatives’ shuffling of leaders when in Government.

One MP said: “All people want is a government which works, and not the endless drama.

They added: “We are in a very tricky global situation, and to have this never-ending conversation about who might have a certain number of supporters feels extremely self-indulgent.”

Speaking to the Guardian, another said: “It’s less than a week from the elections, and we have briefings every day from some would-be candidate or another,” one said. “Nothing makes a party look more out of touch than this level of self-indulgence when people are really worried about the cost of living.”

Sir Keir will fight to save his premiership after an expected loss of over 1,000 council seats on Thursday.

Andy Burnham allies have asked Sir Keir top staff to stay on in No10 if the Prime Minister is toppled, the Telegraph has reported.

Figures in the Manchester Mayor’s camp are said to have made the discrete approaches as part of plans to ensure any transition of power is smooth.

His allies have reportedly already started discussing plans for his early days in Downing Street, including potential staffing.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting are also said to be on manoeuvres for the top Labour job.

Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell, a close friend of Mr Burnham, warned MPs that there is “no magic bullet” to cure Labour’s ills.

She also declined to tell the Guardian whether Sir Keir was the right leader to deliver the change the public is demanding.

She said: “There’s no magic bullet here for us. We are in a difficult world,” she said in an interview on the campaign trail in Leeds, where the party is facing off against both Reform and the Greens in different parts of the city.

“I strongly believe that we’ve got the right agenda to start turning that around. To give people hope, an opportunity and see the change in their communities.”

But when asked if Sir Keir was the right leader to deliver it, Ms Powell said: “I’m not going to get into that. I think there’s no one change that [will affect] all of these situations. We’ve still got to tackle these big issues, and we’ve got to do it in the right way with the right values. Having some side order conversation about personnel and people, I think misses the point.”