Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly weighing up a dramatic reshuffle that could see Chancellor Rachel Reeves removed from office in the wake of next month’s local elections, as Labour grapples with deepening internal divisions and growing political unease.
According to Labour sources cited in reporting, Downing Street is considering a post-election reset around 7 May in what one insider described as “one final roll of the dice” should the party suffer significant losses at the ballot box, according to GB News.
The speculation centres on whether the Prime Minister would seek to reassert authority through a high-profile change at the Treasury, with former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper being discussed as a potential successor.
However, rival factions within the party are said to be pushing for former Labour leader Ed Miliband to take the role instead, exposing competing blocs.
The reports suggest any move against Ms Reeves could trigger internal backlash, particularly from Labour’s so-called soft-Left, at a time when party unity is already under strain, GB News reported.
One Westminster source warned that reshuffles often deepen political instability rather than resolve it, saying such moves “create more enemies than friends”.
Another Labour insider was quoted describing the potential shake-up as “the last gasp of a dying man”, reflecting the intensity of factional tensions emerging in the party ahead of the local elections.
The speculation comes amid wider political turbulence surrounding Sir Keir’s leadership, with Downing Street also facing continued fallout from the ongoing political controversy involving former US ambassador Lord Mandelson.
Despite mounting pressure, the Prime Minister has publicly insisted he intends to continue in post and lead Labour into the next general election. In remarks to The Times, he framed the coming contest as a defining battle with Reform UK, arguing that “patriotic values” such as tolerance and diversity would be central to the political debate.
However, unease within Labour has begun to surface more openly, with some backbench MPs reportedly questioning whether Sir Keir retains the authority needed to make major personnel changes at the top of government.
Others are said to believe that decisive action may be necessary to stabilise the party after what is expected to be a difficult electoral test.
Labour MPs, including Jonathan Bash, the MP for Hartlepool, and Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Middleton South, have already publicly called for the Prime Minister to consider stepping aside, warning of the risk of a damaging electoral setback on 7 May.
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