Starmer is under siege as union boss backs Rayner to topple him

Sir Keir Starmer is facing open revolt. Senior union chiefs are calling for him to quit — and hand the reins to Angela Rayner.

Maryam Eslamdoust, General Secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), didn’t hold back. She said it is “time Labour had a woman leader” and hailed Rayner as “credible” enough to take over.

The attack comes as Labour braces for catastrophic losses in May’s local elections. Reform UK is on the rise, and fears of humiliation are spreading fast.

Eslamdoust told The Guardian: “The Tories have had three women Prime Ministers and four leaders — and we’ve had none. Angela Rayner is a credible figure.”

She slammed Labour MPs for empty talk. “Some women MPs are making noise about needing a woman deputy. If they’re serious, they need to put their money where their mouth is and support Angela Rayner.”

The pressure on Starmer is not just talk. Last week, Fire Brigades Union chief Steve Wright publicly broke ranks and demanded Starmer resign over the Peter Mandelson scandal. He said the country needs a “leadership change.”

Wright had already warned Starmer he was on his “last chance.” He hinted up to a dozen unions could join forces to force him out if Labour flops in the local elections.

“We need to see change,” Wright said bluntly.

“Eighteen months ago the public wanted change — and they’re still waiting. What we’re seeing is more of the same. That needs a leadership change. MPs should be calling for that.”

He didn’t hold back on Starmer’s leadership style.

“He didn’t listen to the former deputy prime minister [Rayner]. He hasn’t listened to his current deputy prime minister. He’s listening to a factional group making bad decisions.”

Rayner’s team moved fast to quash the rumours.

“There is no contest and no vacancy,” said a spokesperson.

Downing Street fought back, pointing out Starmer is “one of only four Labour leaders ever to win a general election” and has a five-year mandate to govern.

But with unions circling and elections looming, Starmer is under the kind of pressure most leaders only face in nightmares. The whispers of revolt are growing louder. And the clock is ticking.