A poll of Labour members shows what they really think about the men and women who could succeed Sir Keir Starmer.
Angela Rayner commands huge popularity in the Labour party (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer is on course to lose any future leadership contest in which he is in a straight fight with Andy Burnham or Angela Rayner, and he could be defeated by Ed Miliband or Wes Streeting, according to a poll of Labour members. Nearly six out of 10 members (58%) said they would vote for Greater Manchester Mayor Mr Burnham in a head-to-head contest with Sir Keir, with fewer than one in three (32%) saying they would back the Prime Minister.
Mr Burnham’s leadership ambitions were the subject of intense discussion during the recent Labour conference. The Mayor would have to win a Westminster seat and he would likely face a strong challenge from Reform UK in any by-election, but the Survation poll for LabourList shows he retains strong popularity in the party. Ms Rayner’s chances of succeeding Sir Keir have not been derailed by her resignation over failure to pay the full stamp duty owed on her new home in Hove. More than half of members (52%) say the would back her over the present PM who would be backed by just 33% in such a contest.
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband could also have a shot at retaking the party helm. In a two-way race 44% would back the Energy Secretary, with 40% sticking with Sir Keir.
Ed Miliband has made it clear he does not want to stand again for the leadership (Image: Getty)
A race against Wes Streeting would be tight, with 33% backing the Health Secretary and 31% voting for the present leader.
Sir Keir can take some comfort from the finding that he would win a contest against Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson by 42% to 26%.
He would also hold onto the leadership if deputy leader Lucy Powell stood against him, winning by 48% to 30%.
And although Shabana Mahmood has won attention since taking on the roll of Home Secretary with her tough rhetoric, she would net 16% in a leadership race with Sir Keir taking 50%.
Wes Streeting has long been seen as a potential future Labour leader (Image: Getty)
Emma Burnell, editor of LabourList, highlighted a key challenge facing Mr Burnham.
She said: “If things move quickly, he may not be able to return to Parliament in time to be a candidate. This might give Starmer and his team hope.
“If there is no obvious candidate that can beat him, he will feel much more secure in place.”
She added: “At the moment this is all speculation. But it is speculation the leadership have invited with their own briefings about Streeting. This conversation has gone from mildly discontented whispers to very real speculation as a result.”
She said it is now clear the membership are “openly questioning if Starmer is still the right person to lead the party”.
