Copyright dailymail
Sir Keir Starmer's defeat in Labour's Deputy Leadership contest is a calamity for him. And the only question now is whether Labour MPs move against him before or after next year's local elections. Technically, this was a fight between Lucy Powell - former Leader of the House - and Bridget Phillipson, the current Education Secretary. But, in truth, it was a referendum on Sir Keir's toxic premiership. And the verdict from his own party was utterly damning. Phillipson ran on a ticket of continuity and support for the PM's project. Though, to be fair, she had to be virtually press-ganged into it by his henchman. Powell, in contrast, kept hammering the message that if Labour didn't change course, they were doomed. And Labour's army of activists have spoken. Their message: 'No change, no chance.' Powell's victory will now create a domino effect: firstly, it will be the signal for the various candidates that could replace Sir Keir to begin to expand their hitherto nascent campaigns. Angela Rayner this week delivered a resignation speech in the House of Commons that was a thinly disguised leadership pitch. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has lined himself up for the weekend media round. And Andy Burnham - one of Lucy Powell's closest allies - will feel vindicated by his decision to urge her to run. Indeed, many viewed Powell as a stalking horse for Burnham, who has made no secret of his own leadership ambitions. And while many commentators wrote he had been rebuffed at his party's annual conference, Burnham was actually emboldened by the positive response he received from delegates and colleagues. Powell's victory also has a key practical effect. One of the major obstacles to a move against the PM is his perceived control over the Labour machine. That is of particular significance to Burnham, who as Manchester mayor will have to find a way of navigating the party's labyrinthine selection processes to secure a parliamentary seat from which to launch his putsch. And as elected Deputy Leader, with an overwhelming personal mandate, Powell can now exert her own control over Labour's internal procedures. This result sends the signal far and wide that Sir Keir's grip on his party is crumbling - just as his grip on the levers of power is weakening. The defeat of his hand-picked Deputy Leadership candidate caps off what has not just been a disastrous week for him, but one of the most disastrous weeks for any sitting Prime Minister in modern British political history. The Government's failure to solve the ban on Israeli football fans attending a match in Birmingham next month was then overshadowed by the revelation a small boat migrant had arrived on Britain's shores having already been deported under the 'one in, one out' deal with France. This was in turn overshadowed by the collapse of the rape gang inquiry; which in turn was overshadowed by Labour's collapse in Wales; which in turn was overshadowed by the conclusive proof that the PM lied over the China spies affair; which in turn has been overshadowed by the revelation the Epping sex offender is on the loose. One week. Starmer's week from hell. Yet, there is a silver lining. I know Lucy Powell, and used to work with her. She is a tough, no-nonsense, savvy political operator, and will move Heaven and Earth to try to move a party and government that is careering off the rails back on track. But even more significantly, this ends the debate over Sir Keir's future. He can no longer even influence events within his own party, never mind his country. Actually, that's not quite true. Far from the Midas Touch, whatever he wills, the opposite happens. Instead of gold we get gruel. So now it is only a matter of when, not if, he is removed as Prime Minister. And that's good news for Labour, and good news for Britain.
