Multiple reports indicate that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is positioning herself to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. According to sources, Cooper would present herself as a centrist 'unifying force' if Starmer is forced out after May's local elections. Her supporters hope she would be urged to lead the party into the next General Election after serving as caretaker. Under the reported plan, Ed Miliband would serve as Chancellor. The reports suggest a coordinated effort among senior Labour figures to prepare for a post-Starmer era.
Whitehall insiders say the business of government has been paralysed by uncertainty over Sir Keir's future. According to a source cited by the Daily Mail, Starmer is seen as 'a dead man walking' and 'the system is basically moving on from him. People are just sitting down and waiting.' This sentiment reflects a broader perception that Starmer's premiership is in jeopardy, though no formal challenge has been announced.
Ed would rather be the power behind the throne than on the throne.
When party members are asked to rate potential leaders, Ed Miliband tops the list, according to polling data. In contrast, Yvette Cooper is in 11th place, indicating she may not be the most popular choice among the grassroots. However, according to a friend of Ed Miliband cited by the Daily Mail, Miliband prefers to be 'the power behind the throne than on the throne,' suggesting he may not seek the top job himself. Miliband's friends say his stint as leader between 2010 and 2015 has removed his appetite for the top job, making him more amenable to a supporting role as Chancellor.
The Conservative Party has seized on the reports to attack Labour. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride criticized a potential Miliband-Cooper leadership plan, saying: 'A Miliband-Cooper leadership plan would be a nightmare ticket for Britain – Red Ed back in charge with the same old Gordon Brown playbook that left our economy weaker and families poorer.' Stride's comments reflect the political ammunition the opposition sees in the internal Labour maneuvering. Meanwhile, senior party figures are coalescing around caretaker figures such as Cooper or Defence Secretary John Healey, according to reports. According to a Labour MP cited by the Daily Mail, Cooper's name is 'being increasingly mentioned as someone who could come in as interim leader,' adding that she 'wouldn't win an open leadership contest but the party may turn to her as an experienced hand who could steady the ship after Keir goes.'
A Miliband-Cooper leadership plan would be a nightmare ticket for Britain – Red Ed back in charge with the same old Gordon Brown playbook that left our economy weaker and families poorer.
Other potential successors face significant obstacles. Deputy Leader Angela Rayner is waiting for the outcome of HMRC's investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty, which could complicate her candidacy. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is reportedly scarred by his association with Peter Mandelson, a controversial figure in Labour politics. Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is still trying to find a way into the House of Commons, a prerequisite for becoming Prime Minister. These factors narrow the field of viable contenders, making Cooper and Miliband's reported plan more plausible.
Adding to the uncertainty, Labour sources say Sir Keir Starmer is weighing up sacking Chancellor Rachel Reeves after the local elections. This report suggests Starmer may be planning a reshuffle to save his premiership, rather than stepping down. The two narratives — one of a leadership plot to replace Starmer, the other of Starmer reshuffling his cabinet — indicate deep uncertainty about his future. It remains unclear whether Starmer will be forced out after the local elections or whether he can regain control of his government. The outcome of HMRC's investigation into Angela Rayner is also pending, which could affect the leadership dynamics. Additionally, it is uncertain whether Ed Miliband would accept the role of Chancellor if offered, given his reported reluctance to return to the front line. The credibility of the report about sacking Rachel Reeves is also in question, as it may be based on anonymous sources with their own agendas.
Keir is seen as a dead man walking. So the system is basically moving on from him. People are just sitting down and waiting.
In summary, the Labour Party is facing a period of intense internal speculation about its leadership. The reported plan involving Yvette Cooper and Ed Miliband represents one possible scenario, but many unknowns remain. The coming weeks, particularly after the local elections, will likely clarify whether Starmer can survive or whether a new leadership team will emerge.
Yvette's name is being increasingly mentioned as someone who could come in as interim leader. She wouldn't win an open leadership contest but the party may turn to her as an…experienced hand who could steady the ship after Keir goes.