No 10 on alert amid fears of challenge to leadership

Downing Street has launched an extraordinary operation to protect Keir Starmer amid fears among his closest allies that he could be vulnerable to a leadership challenge in the aftermath of the budget.

- Pippa Crerar

The prime minister's most senior political aides warned that any attempt to oust him over tanking poll ratings would be a "reckless" and "dangerous" move that could destabilise the markets, international relationships and the Labour party. They insisted that Starmer would fight to retain the leadership in any contest that followed a challenge, either immediately after the budget or, more plausibly, after defeat at the local elections next May.

A bitter row broke out after No 10 sources said they had grown increasingly concerned over speculation among MPs that Wes Streeting could be planning an imminent coup against Starmer - a move fiercely denied by the health secretary.

In a sign of how anxious some in No 10 have become over Starmer's position, senior figures said they had been told that Streeting had 50 frontbenchers willing to stand down if the budget landed badly and the prime minister did not go.

Cabinet ministers told the Guardian that Streeting was just one of several Labour figures "on manoeuvres" for the leadership should a vacancy arise - but that none were likely to move against Starmer now.

They interpreted the Downing Street intervention as a "stop Wes" strategy that was designed to warn off any putative rivals for the leadership, who MPs say include Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood and even Ed Miliband.

"No 10 has gone into full bunker mode, turning on their most loyal cabinet members for absolutely no reason," one source said. "A circular firing squad won't help the government out of the hole we're in." But their warnings were also aimed at Labour MPs jittery about breaking manifesto pledges on tax, the potential for wipeout in May and whether Starmer can deliver change - and a second election victory.