Keir Starmer warned ‘time running out’ to repair faltering premiership

After disastrous week, some MPs predict challenge likely if local and Welsh elections go badly next May

Keir Starmer has been warned that time is running out to repair his faltering premiership, with Labour MPs beginning to ask whether he could be challenged as prime minister.

After a disastrous week which saw Angela Rayner resign and Peter Mandelson sacked as ambassador to Washington, a number of MPs said a challenge was likely if local and Welsh elections went badly next May. Some said the one thing currently protecting Starmer was the lack of an agreed replacement.