Leadership rumours as yet only hint at Starmer's future

The images of Rachel Reeves crying on the frontbenches during PMQs on Wednesday - just hours after the government was forced into a humiliating £5bn climbdown on welfare were stark.

- MILLIE COOKE

It looked like Sir Keir Starmer's top team was on the brink of falling apart. But the following day, the prime minister came out fighting, insisting his chancellor - who also looked notably more cheery - was here to stay.

A minister in tears would make news any day of the year. But on a day when questions over the prime minister’s leadership were already splashed across the papers, just days before he was due to mark one year in office, the image was even more jarring for Labour - and only served to add fuel to growing questions about whether he is the right person for the job.

For weeks now, there have been whisperings of a possible leadership bid by Angela Rayner. The housing secretary’s repeated attempts to shut down the rumours - saying she has no desire to hold the top job - have done little to dampen speculation.

The rumours speak volumes about the level of disaffection within the party over Sir Keir’s leadership and the direction of government. Labour won a thumping majority at last year’s general election. It had a clear mandate to deliver its so-called plan for change, and there was a real sense of optimism. But just one year on, that optimism is well and truly gone.