Starmer: I’m a working class Prime Minister

Sir Keir Starmer has pitched himself as a working class Prime Minister in an attempt to launch a political fightback.

The Prime Minister broke cover this afternoon to address voters in Hertfordshire as he tried to move on from the fallout of the Mandelson scandal.

He said: “It is utter nonsense to suggest that everybody gets a fair chance in life, utter nonsense. I feel very strongly about this.

“I’m in that Cabinet as Prime Minister, having come from a working class background to be Prime Minister of this country. But that’s the exception, that is not the rule.”

Sir Keir’s premiership has been thrown into crisis amid calls for him to resign by rebels including Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, and backbenchers.

His pitch raises the prospect that he intends to take Labour further to the Left.

Earlier on Thursday, Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor, called on Sir Keir to lead the party in a more “inclusive way”, suggesting he do more to accommodate the soft-Left.

On Tuesday: 

• Ed Miliband said Sir Keir faced a “Herculean” task to move on from the Mandelson scandal, which triggered a political crisis at Downing Street. He went on to insist the Prime Minister isn’t going anywhere despite calls for him to quit.
• Sir Keir claimed his top team was “strong and united” despite ongoing tensions between No 10 and Wes Streeting after the Health Secretary was accused of orchestrating a leadership coup against Sir Keir.
• The Energy Secretary, as well as Mr Burnham, denounced Mr Streeting for the alleged coup attempt, telling him to “move on”. The Greater Manchester Mayor also failed to rule out a future leadership challenge at a conference in London.
• Douglas Alexander, the Scotland Secretary, claimed Sir Keir and Mr Sarwar could still work together despite “a sincere and genuine disagreement” between the two leaders.
• Sir Keir spoke to voters at an event in Hertfordshire, telling them the cost of living matters more than political turmoil and raising fears the Prime Minister could shift Left.

[Source: Daily Telegraph]