Laura Kuenssberg reports on the challenges Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces as Labour’s internal factions threaten to resurface amidst upcoming decisions on welfare cuts and immigration reforms. While Starmer's leadership has been marked by an attempt to consolidate power and lessen internal conflicts, the party's history of factionalism looms large. Concerns over winter fuel payments and possible backlash from both the left and newly elected MPs further complicate the landscape, indicating potential strife within Labour as 2025 approaches.
There is a collision coming, a Labour insider tells me. Sir Keir Starmer has long been up for fights with his party. But with controversy around every corner, who are the tribes in the party in 2025, and might they fight back? The party's history is crammed with bitter bust-ups, years when MPs seemed most comfortable to be fighting each other, rather than political rivals.
Put three Labour people in a room and you'll have a faction. Sir Keir's allies seem pretty confident Labour's ditched that habit of constant scrapping.
No 10 is worried enough to be inviting MPs into Downing Street to make their pitch for the changes to welfare, knowing there'll be upset from the usual suspects and hoping there won't be too much of a backlash on the soft left.
The decision on winter fuel payments still causes resentment, and new plans for immigration coming in a white paper later in the spring are likely to be controversial too.
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