Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden has said that instability in the markets will increase if the Prime Minister fights to hold on to his job.
He told GB News: “The danger really is actually instability and if Keir Starmer stays, I think the instability could even be greater than if he goes, because the truth is that he’s clearly lost control of his parliamentary party.
“It means on anything put forward in the King’s Speech, then actually his back benches could force his position, force him to change position anyway. I think that’s the issue here.
“So that’s why I keep saying it’s yes, it’s about the leadership. Yes, it’s about the driver, but it’s also about the direction of travel. That’s what we really need to see a change in is somebody who understands that the country has been heading the wrong direction under this Labour government, with more regulation, more borrowing, more welfare.
“We’ve got to have somebody who gets that. I don’t know if any of the Labour Party MPs there have even the slightest idea that that’s what really needs to change, but I really hope the good of the country that one of them does.”
On a potential return to Parliament by Andy Burnham, he said: “Andy Burnham is one of those people who flipped around positions constantly. I think your listeners and viewers will also remember he was the only health secretary to ever actually privatise an NHS hospital, who was on the absolute radical Blairite wing back before 2010 and now he’s obviously on that sort of more, as they would talk about this within the factions of the Labour Party, the so-called soft left.
“I don’t really know what Andy Burnham’s positioning is and whether it would survive contact with reality, of decisions made here in government.
“Look, it’s not for me to determine who within the Labour Party is the right person. As I said, for me, this is really about the principles and understanding the real conditions the country could face, because cost of living is absolutely hammering families out there. There’s taxes and regulations being put on by the Labour government, hurting businesses on high streets up and down the country.
“Those are the things that I want to see addressed and focused on, and not the internal Labour machinations or how you position yourself within the woke strata to try and win votes in the Labour Party. Otherwise, we’ll end up with a comedy figure trying to fight Zack Polanski for those sorts of votes.
“I don’t think that’s what the country needs. I think the country needs clear leadership with clear principles. And I don’t think we’re seeing that at the moment from this crop of people jostling for position.”