As Sir Keir Starmer looks around his Cabinet table, he can lock eyes with the visible ‘traitors’ plotting to banish him from No 10.
But, as with the smash–hit BBC series, it is secret treachery that is most likely to lead to the Prime Minister’s downfall.
As Labour plunges to fourth in the opinion polls, behind Nigel Farage‘s Reform, the Tories and now even the Greens, Sir Keir is increasingly expected to face a leadership challenge if May’s local election results are as disastrous as expected.
Hyper–ambitious Health Secretary Wes Streeting is one of those hiding in plain sight, waiting to pounce. Mr Streeting has insisted that he is a maligned Starmer ‘faithful’ in the mould of rugby star Joe Marler, who was unfairly branded a ‘traitor’ in the celebrity run of the series: protesting one’s innocence so forcefully is, of course, one of the hallmarks of a traitor.
Then there is former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who is cultivating the Labour Left as she mulls whether to make a pitch for the top job – or to throw in her lot with Manchester mayor and ‘King of the North’ Andy Burnham as he plots his way towards a Commons seat.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is also building a growing following, both in her own right and as a potential running mate for Mr Streeting.
So those are the obvious ones. But last week, more than eight million BBC viewers saw Fiona Hughes uncloaked in the castle turret as Claudia Winkleman’s Secret Traitor – the contestant who had worked alone and drawn up a shortlist for murder.
Her equivalents in Westminster can be found among the swelling ranks of the overlooked and resentful within Sir Keir’s Government who are pulling strings in the hope that a new Prime Minister could lead to a revival of their careers.
‘Look at someone with a grievance,’ suggested one veteran Labour MP yesterday. ‘Look at people whom the PM really hasn’t treated very well and are not very happy about it. Someone like Jonny Reynolds.’
Hyper–ambitious Health Secretary Wes Streeting is one of those hiding in plain sight, waiting to pounce
Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is also waiting in the wings, cultivating the Labour Left as she mulls whether to make a pitch for the top job or to throw in her lot with Manchester mayor Burnham
Four months ago, Mr Reynolds was the high–flying Business and Trade Secretary – a jet–setting job he clearly loved.
But in September’s reshuffle, he was surprisingly moved to the much lower–profile role of government Chief Whip.
‘It hasn’t worked,’ said another Labour MP last night. ‘The Chief Whip role is crucial to the way the whole party operates at Westminster. But Jonny’s not a natural for that job and he clearly isn’t enjoying it.’
The Labour MP added: ‘I don’t see Jonny as a contender himself.
‘The danger for Starmer would be if someone as well liked as Jonny came out in support of one of the real challengers.’
Peter Kyle, Mr Reynolds’ surprise replacement as Business and Trade Secretary is also cited as another Cabinet minister who could potentially play a key role in how a leadership plot unfolds.
Or at least that is how he is seen by some Labour Left–wingers.
Despite his reputation as being one of Sir Keir’s closest allies around the Cabinet table, they see him as someone who as a moderate would give his wholehearted backing to a Streeting pitch for the top job. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is also being watched carefully, despite his protestations that he does not want a second go as Labour leader.
Then there are the Blairite ‘zombies’ such as former Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who now wields unusual power in Mr Streeting’s department as a non–executive director, former Miliband spin chief Tom Baldwin, a journalist turned political strategist, all of whom are accused of quietly advancing the interests of Mr Streeting as they orbit the No 10 operation.
One Labour insider said last night: ‘The end for Sir Keir will likely come when someone he doesn’t suspect makes a treacherous move. That may be to stand themselves, to put their own name forward.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is also being watched carefully, despite his protestations that he does not want a second go as Labour leader
As Sir Keir Starmer looks around his Cabinet table, he can lock eyes with the visible ‘traitors’ plotting to banish him from No 10
‘More probably, it’ll be to back one of the already–known, would–be successors and start the leadership race.’
There is nothing secret about Mr Streeting’s ambitions.
Eight years ago, when asked on a comedy show who would be PM in ten years, a grinning Mr Streeting replied: ‘I think it will probably be me.’
His sure–footed response to briefings against him by No 10 in November that he was already preparing a leadership bid only enhanced his reputation among Labour MPs as a would–be leader.
‘Someone has definitely been watching too much Celebrity Traitors,’ he said. ‘They should swap to Countryfile.’
The firm denials have failed to quell growing expectation at Westminster that the Health Secretary will launch a bid to succeed Sir Keir, with some MPs predicting that he must
do so before the May local elections to help reduce Labour’s expected losses.
Only last week, there were reports that Scottish Labour MPs were privately urging Mr Streeting to make his move now to help the party avoid losses in the Holyrood elections.
However, some Labour modernisers warn against the dangers of triggering a contest that ousts Sir Keir but then being unable to control the outcome.
The point to the recent contest to run the giant Unison union where Left–wing candidate Andrea Egan, a declared fan of Mr Burnham, beat the sitting general secretary Christine McAnea, an ally of
Sir Keir. The result has made even MPs desperate to see the back of the PM that bit more nervous.
One party insider said: ‘The Unison election was a stark reminder of the danger. You launch a contest but there’s no guarantee that your preferred candidate gets over the finish line.’
Reports of the need for a No 10 secret traitor hunt involving Mr Reynolds or any other senior Labour figure were dismissed last night by Downing Street.
A government source said: ‘We are focused on tackling the issues that matter to people including the cost of living.’
Mr Kyle laughed off any suggestions of being a secret plotter, with a source saying: ‘This is such a crazy idea it might make Celia Imrie fart again!’ – a reference to the actress owning up to breaking wind during an episode of Celebrity Traitors last year.
