Labour deputy issues fierce warning to Keir Starmer’s leadership rivals amid fears party will be plunged into ‘bloody’ civil war

Lucy Powell has cautioned potential challengers against attempting to oust Sir Keir Starmer following next month's local elections, arguing that internal party warfare would be deeply inappropriate during the ongoing Iran conflict.

The deputy leader made clear that Labour members would react negatively to any bid to unseat the Prime Minister.

"I've got my own job and my own mandate. I'm not saying this because I want to suck up to anyone. I'm saying it because it's the right thing for the party and country," she stated.

Ms Powell emphasised that "some kind of messy, bloody internal contest is not going to help us address these issues".

She noted that party gatherings respond most enthusiastically when she discusses Mr Starmer's approach to the Iran crisis. "We need calm, sensible, grown-up leadership to take us through this," Ms Powell added to the Financial Times.

The deputy leader's intervention comes despite her own complicated history with Sir Keir. She was dismissed from her role as Leader of the Commons last September, becoming the sole cabinet-level departure at that time.

Ms Powell subsequently secured her current position through a vote of party members, taking over from Angela Rayner. Ms Rayner had stepped down following controversy surrounding underpaid tax on her property in Hove.

Despite the deputy leader's defence of the Prime Minister, Labour faces a potentially devastating set of results on May 7.

Analysts predict the party could shed close to 2,000 council seats, with Reform UK and the Greens expected to make significant gains at Labour's expense.

The picture looks equally bleak in the devolved nations. Labour is anticipated to lose control in Wales, whilst in Scotland the party may slip to third or even fourth place.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has already publicly demanded that Sir Keir step aside, breaking ranks with the party leadership ahead of what promises to be a bruising electoral test.

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Nevertheless, a growing consensus has emerged among Labour MPs and ministers that Starmer will weather the electoral storm, even among those who have been sharply critical of his leadership.

Though the Prime Minister remains deeply unpopular with voters, his handling of the Iran conflict and willingness to confront President Trump appears to be generating support.

Downing Street believes the crisis could offer an opportunity to revive Mr Starmer's fortunes.

On Thursday, he expressed frustration with Mr Trump's role in driving up energy costs for British households and businesses, drawing parallels between the US-Israeli military action in Iran and Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

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