Starmer to say incremental change won't cut it' in major make-or-break speech to avert leadership challenge UK politics live

"Angela Rayner issued what was in effect her manifesto late yesterday afternoon (although she also hinted she would be happy for it to be delivered by Andy Burnham as leader), and Keir Starmer delivers what you could see as a hustings speech this morning. Leaders can survive challenges. In 1995 John Major was widely seen as doomed, but Michael Portillo postponed a decision to stand against him, Major easily saw off a challenge from John Redwood (the Catherine West of his day, in some respects), and Major survived another two years."

"In 2016 the vast majority of Labour MPs voted no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn, but he survived (because he was adored by Labour members, a benefit that Starmer does not enjoy). In 2006 Tony Blair accepted he would have to go. But he was allowed to work his notice for a year; Gordon Brown and his allies were powerful enough to force him out, but not to force him out quickly. No one knows where this will end up."

"In his speech this morning, Starmer will say incremental change won't cut it. According to extracts released in advance, he will say: To meet the challenges that our country faces, incremental change won't cut it. On growth, defence, Europe, energy we need a bigger response than we anticipated in 2024 because these are not ordinary times. Strength through fairness. It's a core Labour argument. And you will see those values writ large in the king's speech."

"The problem Starmer faces is that for many people, including Labour MPs (like Josh Simons, who addressed this exact point in an article published yesterday), incremental change sounds like a definition of Starmerism. Here is over ov"

Angela Rayner has issued a manifesto-like statement that functions as a leadership challenge, while Keir Starmer has delivered a hustings-style speech. Past Labour and Conservative leadership battles show leaders can survive challenges, though outcomes are uncertain. Starmer’s message is that incremental change will not meet current national challenges. He frames the need for a larger response on growth, defence, Europe, and energy, describing the period as not ordinary times. He emphasizes “strength through fairness” and links Labour values to the King’s speech, stressing hope, urgency, and alignment of sides. The risk for Starmer is that “incremental change” may be heard by many, including Labour MPs, as defining his own approach.

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