Keir Starmer has been accused of preparing a “Soviet-style crackdown” on dissent as pressure grows over his leadership and speculation intensifies around a possible future challenge from Andy Burnham.
Esther McVey claimed Britain was about to witness “Soviet Starmer” as the Prime Minister battles to tighten his grip on power amid mounting political turbulence.
Speaking on the Daily Expresso podcast, Ms McVey compared Sir Keir to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and accused him of attempting to silence opposition while abandoning core democratic principles.
She alleged that the Prime Minister was betraying Brexit, pursuing creeping state intervention in the economy, and overseeing policies that increasingly resemble price controls and renationalisation.
She added: “He is going to crush any dissent against him. If he doesn’t like what you say, if he doesn’t like what you believe in, if you challenge him in any way, he will crush that.”
Ms McVey also criticised the Government’s handling of the recent Unite the Kingdom march in central London, attended by supporters of Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
Ahead of the demonstration, Sir Keir had accused organisers of “peddling hatred and division”.
A Downing Street spokeswoman stressed that the Government supported peaceful protest and freedom of speech, while warning anyone attempting to cause disorder should expect “the full force of the law”.
Police measures surrounding the protests included the use of live facial recognition technology, which critics said represented an increasingly authoritarian approach to public dissent.
Ms McVey branded the trend “Maximum Starmerism”, arguing the Government was becoming intolerant of opposition voices.
Her comments came as questions continued swirling around Sir Keir’s authority inside Labour following the suspension of former Labour MP Karl Turner.
Mr Turner, who lost the Labour whip in March after criticising Government policies, including plans to restrict jury trials, accused figures inside Number 10 of briefing against him and spreading claims about his mental health.
Speaking in the Commons this week, Mr Turner said the “lads in Number 10” had allowed discriminatory smears to circulate.
Referring to the suicide of his nephew following work-related stress, he challenged Sir Keir directly over whether he had reflected on the impact of such alleged briefings.
The Prime Minister replied that nobody should face smears relating to mental health.
Sir Keir has also faced mounting criticism over economic policy after ministers were forced to deny reports that the Government had explored supermarket price caps to combat rising living costs.
Senior supermarket figures reportedly described the idea as “preposterous” and “idiotic”.
At the same time, ministers have faced scrutiny over the partial softening of sanctions on Russian oil products.
A new trade licence now permits imports of Russian-origin oil refined into products such as diesel and jet fuel in third countries, including India and Turkey, despite previous commitments to tighten restrictions.
Critics said the developments contributed to a growing perception of political confusion inside government as Labour attempts to balance economic pressures, energy security concerns and internal party tensions.
The attacks from Ms McVey also reflect growing Conservative efforts to portray Sir Keir as increasingly authoritarian while simultaneously portraying him as politically vulnerable.
Speculation around Mr Burnham’s future ambitions has intensified following his return to Westminster politics, with some Labour figures privately viewing him as a potential successor should support for Sir Keir weaken further.
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