'Full bunker mode': UK PM leadership at risk as internal plotting escalates

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing mounting signs of internal plotting and cabinet rivalries that are threatening to destabilize his premiership, with Downing Street accused by some insiders of operating in "full bunker mode" amid fears of an imminent leadership challenge.

Government and party sources say tensions within Labour's top ranks have deepened in recent weeks as allies and rivals position themselves ahead of the upcoming Budget and next May's devolved and local elections – both viewed as potential flashpoints for a leadership contest, says the Guardian.

"Circular firing squad" inside government

Officials close to the Prime Minister acknowledge that relations between senior ministers have soured. Several government sources described the atmosphere as a "circular firing squad," with Starmer's team accused of "turning on their most loyal cabinet members for absolutely no reason."

The BBC says that briefings have reportedly targeted Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband – figures previously seen as loyal allies. Some Labour MPs interpret this as a "stop Wes" strategy aimed at discouraging any leadership ambitions by Streeting, who is viewed by some colleagues as "on manoeuvres."

One government insider said the internal feuding "won't help the government out of the hole we're in."

Public disagreements and weakened discipline

Streeting, regarded as one of the party's rising figures, has become a "thorn in Starmer's side," according to colleagues, after questioning the government's positions on welfare, digital ID and Gaza policy. He has also publicly criticised the Prime Minister's "island of strangers" speech and decisions to cut winter fuel payments.

The disputes have created a perception of drift inside government. "Until the government starts delivering change, people won't feel positive about it," one Labour source said.

Budget and local elections seen as key trigger points

Allies of the Prime Minister fear that a poorly received Budget could prompt MPs to move against him within weeks. "The list of reasons for people to move after the Budget are growing by the day," one Labour figure said.

Attention is also turning to the 2026 May devolved and local elections, which many in the party view as a crunch moment. Labour is expected to perform poorly, fuelling concerns that "something will happen" if the results are as bad as feared.

Some MPs say they cannot afford to wait that long, warning that delays risk losing their activist base and local councillors.

Warnings of chaos and instability

Starmer's supporters are urging MPs to avoid a challenge, warning it would be "reckless" and "dangerous." One senior ally said that toppling the Prime Minister just 18 months into government would be "the height of irresponsibility" and that "the party would not recover for a generation."

They also warn that a contest could shake international markets and jeopardize what they describe as Starmer's "good relationship with President Trump."

Critics counter that Starmer's deep unpopularity and falling support – with polls showing Labour backed by little more than a fifth of voters – have left the party vulnerable. One minister said the situation was "worse than it got under Corbyn."

Reform UK adds to Labour's anxiety

The rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has intensified Labour's internal unease. Starmer views the contest with Reform as "generation-defining," arguing that losing to Farage would be worse than losing to the Conservatives.

Supporters say this makes party unity vital. "The choice isn't between this Labour government and perfection," one cabinet minister said. "It's between us and Reform."

But for some in Labour's ranks, the Reform threat underlines the urgency of change. "We're about to hand the country to Reform," one cabinet minister warned privately.

Growing doubts over leadership

Behind the scenes, MPs are increasingly questioning whether Starmer can reverse Labour's slump and deliver on its mandate. With his approval ratings at historic lows, one senior backbencher summed up the mood: "It's not a matter of if, but when the plotting turns into action."