Starmer ‘to axe Chancellor’ in bid to save his job – Daily Business

Starmer appears to be turning against Rachel Reeves

Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to sack Chancellor Rachel Reeves, according to Labour party sources, as he seeks to retore his authority.

The latest speculation, reported by the Daily Mail, indicates that the Prime Minister will instigate a major reshuffle if the election results on 7 May prove to be as bad as being predicted.

One insider described the rumours as “one final roll of the dice” with Ms Reeves taking the blame for a series of catastrophic decisions on the economy.

However, other departments have been the focus of humiliating u-turns on poor policy decisions and controversial policies from immigration to energy. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is being mentioned as a potential successor at the Treasury.

The speculation comes amid wider political turbulence surrounding Sir Keir’s leadership, with Downing Street facing continued fallout from the ongoing political controversy involving former US ambassador Lord Mandelson.

Despite the Prime Minister’s falling popularity, he has insisted he will lead the party into the next General Election.

However, Labour MPs including Jonathan Bash, 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.

Earlier this year the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for Sir Keir to resign, stating that he was damaging the party’s prospects of victory in the Scottish elections.

SNP chief whip Kirsty Blackman MP said: “This reeks of desperation. Rachel Reeves has been a disaster as Chancellor but Keir Starmer is living on another planet if he thinks he can save his skin by sacking everyone else.

“Starmer shares the blame for the Labour Party’s appalling record on the economy. On his watch, the cost of living has soared, energy bills are £400 higher than promised and rising, UK unemployment is at a five-year high, half a million more people have been pushed into poverty, UK economic growth has been downgraded and public finances have deteriorated.

“And, at a time when families need a government that is fully-focused on the cost of living emergency, it is a disgrace that the Labour Party is completely distracted by the Peter Mandelson scandal and failing to lift a finger to help households.

“That is entirely on Keir Starmer. He has fatally damaged public trust in the Labour government and is now throwing everyone under the bus instead of taking responsibility himself.”

#Starmer #axe #Chancellor #bid #save #job #Daily #Business