Multiple reports indicate that Yvette Cooper is positioning herself to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, and would present herself as a centrist 'unifying force' if he 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 plan, Ed Miliband would serve as Chancellor.
Ed Miliband tops the list when party members are asked to rate potential leaders, while Yvette Cooper is in 11th place. However, according to Daily Mail - News, one friend of Ed Miliband described him as preferring to be the power behind the throne rather than on the throne, suggesting his stint as leader between 2010 and 2015 has removed his appetite for the top job. Whitehall insiders told Daily Mail - News that Sir Keir is seen as a dead man walking, and the system is moving on from him, with people just waiting.
Ed would rather be the power behind the throne than on the throne.
Angela Rayner is waiting for the outcome of HMRC's investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is scarred by his association with Peter Mandelson. Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is still trying to find a way into the House of Commons.
Senior party figures are coalescing around caretaker figures such as Yvette Cooper or John Healey. According to Daily Mail - News, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride described a Miliband-Cooper leadership plan as a nightmare ticket for Britain. According to Daily Mail - News, a Labour MP described Yvette Cooper as being increasingly mentioned as someone who could come in as interim leader, 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.
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.