.png%3Ftrim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
Can Starmer and Reeves hold the Labour Party together? Ask John Rentoul anything
Keep scrolling for more. If you want to jump straight to the Q&A, click here.
Recent attempts by Sir Keir Starmer's leadership to tackle welfare reform have exposed deep tensions within Labour, shaking its identity to the core.
The standoff over disability benefits, with dramatic rebellions from both loyalist and Corbynite MPs alike, laid bare the struggles Labour faces in balancing fiscal responsibility with social justice.
Starmer's handling of the revolt has damaged his standing, and it seems that only deputy leader Angela Rayner emerged stronger, prompting whispers about the future leadership of the party.
It comes as former Labour MP Zarah Sultana announced she will co-lead a new political party with ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, accusing the government of having 'completely failed to improve people's lives.'
Sultana, who lost the Labour whip last year after voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap, had remained a member of the party despite no longer sitting as a Labour MP.
So, can Labour survive this identity crisis?
Can the party reconcile its historic commitment to working people with the tough policy decisions required in today's political climate – and craft a credible alternative to austerity without alienating its own members?
What about Rachel Reeves, Liz Kendall, and Angela Rayner? Will these recent developments change the balance of power within the party, or push one of them out entirely?
Join me live at 2pm BST on Friday, 4 July to discuss Labour's internal battles, the challenges facing Starmer's government, and what the future holds for the party.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
6 minutes ago
- Reuters
American Mayer announces candidacy for FIA president
SILVERSTONE, England, July 4 (Reuters) - American Tim Mayer announced on Friday he will stand against Emirati incumbent Mohammed Ben Sulayem in a December vote for president of the FIA, motorsport's world governing body. The 59-year-old, who served as a Formula One steward until last year, is the son of former McLaren team principal Teddy Mayer. "I believe I am the right person, at the right time, in the right place," Mayer told a press conference at a hotel near Silverstone, the British Grand Prix circuit. He added that he had been working on his campaign for six months. "What I see is a failure in leadership right now," he said. "Instead of reform, we've seen performance. Behind the stagecraft, we've been left with the illusion of progress; and the illusion of leadership, while the most senior team he appointed has departed." Mayer said last November he had been dismissed as a steward via text message by an assistant to Ben Sulayem. The FIA disputes that detail. The American said standing was not an act of revenge but about driving the organisation forward -- with his campaign branded FIAforward. There was no immediate response from the FIA. Ben Sulayem, who has made much of returning the governing body to profit, has been a controversial figure since his election in 2021. There have been battles with Liberty Media over commercial matters and accusations of sexism, and there has been a high turnover of senior staff. Critics also say statute changes , approved by FIA members, limit the powers of audit and ethics committees and make it harder for rivals to stand against him. Mayer described his bid as a Herculean task with the deck stacked in Ben Sulayem's favour, given recent statute changes, and only five months to campaign and win votes from member federations. Mayer did not say who would be on his presidential list, a requirement for standing, which he admitted still had some open positions. He said he had good support from Motorsport UK and had informed Stefano Domenicali, chief executive of Liberty Media-owned Formula One, of his plans. "The job now is to go out and explain to lots of small clubs around the world ... why we can do a better job," said Mayer. "Explaining how we can bring value and restructure the FIA to do a better job. "I do feel restructuring needs to happen." Ben Sulayem has already announced he is seeking a second term and until Friday had no declared opponent, with Spain's double world rally champion Carlos Sainz Sr. recently deciding not to stand. Mayer said he would have stood even if Sainz had decided to run. He also dismissed any suggestion of a conflict of interest regarding the historic family connection with McLaren. The FIA is the governing body for F1, the world rally championship and Formula E among other series.
Daily Mirror
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Jeremy Corbyn says new party is coming - but stops short of Zarah Sultana claim
It comes after ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana announced last night she was quitting the party to "co-lead" the founding of a new group with the former party leader Jeremy Corbyn says his new political party is on the way - but isn't ready yet. It comes after ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana announced last night she was quitting the party to "co-lead" the founding of a new group with the former party leader. And it follows reports that Mr Corbyn was unhappy with the way Ms Sultana announced the move last night. In a statement on X, Mr Corbyn welcomed Ms Sultana's decision to leave Labour - but stopped short of confirming he was co-leading the party with her. "Real change is coming," he wrote. "One year on from the election, this Labour government has refused to deliver the change people expected and deserved. Poverty, inequality and war are not inevitable. "Our country needs to change direction, now. "Congratulations to Zara Sultana on her principled decision to leave the Labour Party. "I am delighted that she will help us build a real alternative. "The democratic foundations of a new kind of political party will soon take shape. Discussions are ongoing - and I am excited to work alongside all communities to fight for the future people deserve. "Together, we can create something that is desperately missing from our broken political system: hope." Ms Sultana said in her statement that she would "co-lead the founding of a new party" with Corbyn - as well as other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country. She also cited a long list of reasons for her exit, including the scrapping of winter fuel payments for pensioners, cuts for disabled people and the two-child benefit cap as well as the UK government being an "active participant" in genocide. In a statement shared to X on Thursday evening, Sultana voiced her frustration with the party, saying "Labour has completely failed to improve people's lives." The 31-year-old wrote in her statement: "Today, after 14 years, I'm resigning from the Labour Party. Jeremy Corbyn and I will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country." "Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper," she added. "Just 50 families now own more wealth than half the UK population. Poverty is growing, inequality is obscene and the two-party system offers nothing but managed decline and broken promises. "A year ago, I was suspended by the Labour Party for voting to abolish the two-child benefit cap and lift 400,000 children out of poverty. I'd do it again. I voted against scrapping winter fuel payments for pensioners. I'd do it again. Now, the government wants to make disabled people suffer; they just can't decide how much. Meanwhile, a billionaire-backed grifter is leading the polls, because Labour has completely failed to improve people's lives." Sultana, who has repeatedly spoken out against the UK selling arms to Israel, said the British people oppose the genocide in Gaza, and "are not going to take this anymore." She said: "Across the political establishment, from Farage to Starmer, they smear people of conscience trying to stop a genocide in Gaza as terrorists. But the truth is clear: this government is an active participant in genocide. And the British people oppose it. We are not going to take this anymore. "We're not an island of strangers; we're an island that's suffering. We need homes and lives we can actually afford, not rip-off bills we pay every month to a tiny elite bathing in cash. We need our money spent on public services, not forever wars. In 2029, the choice will be stark: socialism or barbarism. "Billionaires already have three parties fighting for them. It's time the rest of us had one." She concluded her statement by encouraging Brits to turn to the new party. "Join us. The time is now," she said.
BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
Discussions ongoing about new party, says Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn has said "discussions are ongoing" after ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana announced she was quitting the party to co-lead the founding of a new party with ex-Labour leader congratulated Sultana on her "principled decision" to leave and said he was "delighted that she will help us build a real alternative".He said "the democratic foundations of a new kind of political party will soon take shape" but stopped short of providing details as to who would lead the movement. Making her announcement on Thursday evening, Sultana said Westminster was broken adding: "We are not going to take this anymore."
