Is Keir Starmer one ‘dreadful night’ from being kicked out of No.10?
Sam Coates, deputy political editor at Sky News, tells The News Agents why he believes there has been no attempt by the Labour government to replace the Prime Minister.
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What’s the story?
Keir Starmer, despite repeated calls from opposition leaders, remains the UK Prime Minister.
The Peter Mandelson scandal continues to loom large over the PM, as the country now knows the former Labour MP was appointed as the UK ambassador to the US in 2025 despite failing security vetting for the role.
That comes on top of nearly two years of U-turns, an economy which continues to struggle, and the rise of populist parties such as the Greens, and Reform UK.
The Tories, during their 14 years in power, were never shy to replace their leader – so why is Starmer still in place?
Sam Coates, deputy political editor at Sky News, tells The News Agents the upcoming local elections may be the only thing preventing this happening right now.
“If the events of the last week had happened on the other side of May, I think we might be in a much worse situation,” Coates tells Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel.
“Because the local elections are the only thing keeping MPs in place.”
Does Labour have an ‘appetite for chaos’?
Labour came to power after what seemed like a revolving-door policy in the Tories, who ploughed through leaders in their final years in power.
Emily says Labour MPs would need an “appetite for chaos” if they decide to get rid of their Prime Minister, who was elected on a huge mandate.
“Getting rid of a Prime Minister is like standing behind the jet engine of a massive jumbo jet,” Coates says.
“You can feel the force coming at you, and the very foundations of the Houses of Parliament shake.”
But with Labour predicted to do poorly at the local elections, Coates says that may create the conditions that might act to trigger that appetite for chaos among MPs – but adds it probably needs another Mandelson-sized blunder to seal the deal.
“I don't think it's enough. I think there needs to be another error on top of a terrible night, I suspect,” he adds.
Who’s waiting in the wings to take Starmer’s place?
There are names jostling among the Labour ranks that some might like to see take the top spot, but the person who cannot become PM is the one who may be the one with the most support.
“The smartest thing that Keir Starmer has done all year, I would argue, was to block Andy Burnham from standing in Gorton and Denton,” says Emily.
“Presumably, if Andy Burnham was now the MP there, that would be a lightning rod for change.”
Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, was blocked from standing in a by-election earlier in 2026, in which Labour lost its seat to Hannah ‘the plumber’ Spencer of the Greens.
Sam agrees blocking Burnham has been a “defining moment” for Starmer.
“Andy Burnham is the only candidate out there who might improve Labor's ratings,” Coates says.
“You look at the rest – West Streeting, Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood – voters as a whole are even less sure about them than they are Prime Minister.”