The morning papers anticipate a leadership bid by Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
The Daily Mail predicts a "day of anarchy" is ahead, with Labour "plunged into civil war". The prospect of a challenge is welcomed by the Daily Express, whose headline reads: "Finally, a move to bring down zombie Keir". The Sun chooses "Street fighter", while the front page of the Daily Star says "Downing Streeting". Sir Keir Starmer's allies tell the Financial Times they are "sceptical" the health secretary has the necessary backing. But one of his supporters insists that "Wes is a very good politician, he doesn't rely on shonky data".
A minister is quoted in the Sun as saying Sir Keir has warned that Streeting will "destroy" Labour and the country – however Downing Street denies he said that. With the prime minister expected to join any contest, the Times says it will be a "three-way fight for Number Ten" – though the Guardian reports there is now a "frantic scramble" to find the candidate for the Labour left. According to the Daily Mirror, the left of the party is "divided" over who to choose. The Daily Telegraph predicts it will put forward the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, because the former deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, is embroiled in an as yet unresolved tax row. One senior figure on the left tells the Times she is well liked but a "complete liability".
Allies of Andy Burnham tell the i Paper that he will try to join the fight – saying he has "found a seat", but it "might not be winnable". According to the Mail, they are lobbying for an extended timetable to any leadership contest, but the paper says any delay could leave the UK with a "lame duck prime minister". A supporter of Burnham quoted in the Telegraph admits that he will "probably be squeezed out of the race". One MP backing the Greater Manchester mayor tells the Guardian he has "run out of time"- while another says his "best hope now is to do a deal" with Sir Keir.
In its leader column, the Financial Times insists that what it terms the "battle for the soul of Labour" should not be a "drawn-out process". It warns that the UK "finds itself in a moment of great peril" and calls for Labour to remember the principle of "country first, party second".
Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox.
📰 மூல செய்தி (Source): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c936d9562vlo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
