Crisis in No.10: Rumors of a party coup as Starmer faces growing dissent

London’s I Paper reported on Saturday (Nov. 8, 2025) that several Labour MPs — particularly new members of Parliament — are exploring coordinated mechanisms to remove Starmer from power. The behind-the-scenes maneuvering comes as the U.K. government faces escalating economic, political, and administrative challenges, and pressure mounts on the Prime Minister to restore unity within the party.

Sources close to Labour say that several first-term MPs have been holding informal meetings in recent weeks to discuss a potential leadership challenge. Though the full details remain undisclosed, news of these gatherings has fueled political tension in Westminster ahead of the new budget bill, set to be unveiled on December 5.

Amid rising tensions, four MPs who were suspended over the summer for opposing the government’s controversial welfare reforms have been quietly reinstated after negotiations with Jonathan Reynolds, Labour’s parliamentary chair.

The group — Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff, Brian Lishman, and Rachel Maskell — had sparked internal dissent by rejecting Starmer’s welfare restructuring plan. Their return, just before the budget’s release, has reignited questions about the Prime Minister’s ability to manage party divisions.

At the center of the turmoil lies Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ upcoming budget proposal, which is expected to introduce significant tax increases to cover deficits and reduce public debt — a move that directly contradicts Labour’s election promise of “meaningful economic reform without higher taxes.”

Deputy Party Leader Lucy Powell warned that breaking tax promises could deal an “irreparable blow” to public trust in politics, underscoring apparent fractures within the cabinet and raising fears of a new split at the top of government.

According to The Times, the Treasury is considering lowering the annual tax-free pension contribution threshold to £2,000 — a change that would directly affect millions of public and private sector workers.

Adding to Starmer’s troubles, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy was forced to apologize after failing to declare a £2,900 campaign donation, which an ethics committee called an “unintentional breach of conduct.” Meanwhile, multiple wrongful prisoner releases have put Justice Secretary David Lammy and the country’s prison management system under fierce public scrutiny.

In a stark editorial, The Guardian warned that the convergence of economic strain, internal discord, and ministerial scandals threatens a “collapse of public expectations.” The paper noted that Labour’s 2024 victory was built on pledges of “fiscal reform without tax rises” — promises now at risk under mounting fiscal pressure.

Analysts argue that Starmer faces the toughest test of his premiership: can he restore party unity and public trust before economic turmoil and political unrest engulf his government — or will the whispers of a Labour coup turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy?

They add that Britain’s post-Brexit politics remain unstable, casting a long shadow of uncertainty over whoever occupies Downing Street.