Ed Miliband emerging as top contender to replace Starmer

Ed Miliband is trying to “position himself for a coronation” to replace Sir Keir Starmer after the local elections in May, Labour sources have told The Independent.

After another dreadful week for the prime minister, who has seen his integrity come under further scrutiny over the Peter Mandelson scandal, many MPs believe the end of his leadership is in sight and the energy secretary has emerged as a new contender to take his place.

Mr Miliband has repeatedly denied any leadership ambitions, but has become increasingly outspoken over the Mandelson vetting crisis and speculation is rife that he is preparing to throw his hat into the ring, with next month’s local elections expected to be “apocalyptic” for Labour and to put further pressure on Sir Keir to step down.

A supporter of Mr Miliband told The Independent: “He has the energy and enthusiasm. He is loved by younger members of the party. He is a new man from when he was last leader.”

Crucially, Mr Miliband does not face the same barriers that could prevent some rival leadership candidates – including Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and health secretary Wes Streeting – from launching successful bids to succeed Sir Keir.

Supporters of Mr Burnham want to hold off on a leadership contest until he can become an MP and run, while Ms Rayner is still waiting for the outcome of the HMRC investigation into her failure to pay stamp duty on a flat in Brighton.

Meanwhile, Mr Streeting – who was seen holding court with supporters in parliament on Tuesday after sacked Foreign Office mandarin Sir Olly Robbins’ bombshell evidence had further damaged the prime minister – is not thought to have enough backing in the party to land the job.

Mr Miliband, who served as Labour leader from 2010 to 2015, is among a handful of cabinet ministers believed to have performed well in their current roles, and briefings in favour of him taking over have soared after he became the first senior minister to break ranks and collective responsibility on the issue of Lord Mandelson’s appointment.

He publicly disowned the appointment of Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the US and suggested both he and deputy prime minister David Lammy, who was foreign secretary at the time of the appointment, had raised concerns.

Mr Miliband told Sky News: “You’re saying [Mandelson] should never have been appointed, and I agree with you. I steered well clear of Peter Mandelson when I became Labour leader in 2010.”

Asked what he had thought about Lord Mandelson’s initial appointment, he said: “That it could blow up, that it could go wrong. I had a conversation with David Lammy about it before the appointment, and I said I was worried about it. I think he was worried about it, too.”

One Labour MP said: “It looks like there is some sort of deal between Miliband and Lammy.”

With suspicions that Mr Miliband may be positioning himself for a leadership run, one minister noted: “He threw his arms around me yesterday to ask how I was. He’s always been friendly, but never that much.”

Another MP added: “I think he is hoping for a coronation because the others are just not in a position to make a challenge.”

A spokesperson for Mr Miliband denied this and said “I refer you to his previous comments.”

He has previously said: “I’ve had the, if you like, the inoculation technique against wanting to be leader of the Labour Party because I was the leader of the Labour Party, and that was a very successful inoculation.”

But any hopes that he may be appointed leader unopposed appear unlikely, with Labour MPs deeply divided over who should take over.

One senior Labour MP said: “I think the reality is there is currently no viable alternative to Starmer at all. Wes is Mandelson’s protege and Angela brings too many controversies of her own.

“We get one shot at changing leader. It has to be someone who offers a genuine break from both the scandals and the disastrous policy decisions that have defined this government.”

Others are less convinced about Mr Miliband’s prospects, partly because of his previous spell as leader, which led to a humiliating election defeat to David Cameron in 2015.

One MP said: “I’m in the ‘Please God, not Ed’ camp.”

Others, particularly among the Socialist Campaign Group of left-wing MPs, want to hold out for Mr Burnham.

Meanwhile, support is growing for defence minister and former Royal Marines commander Al Carns as “a clean break” surprise candidate for the top job.

With support rising for Mr Carns, who had backing to run in the recent deputy leadership election before being told by the leadership that he should not run, MPs are looking at possible candidates among the 2024 intake.

One Labour MP said: “Frankly, I’m up for skipping the current lot and going for Al Carns.

“Frankly, he’s the only person who might be able to bring people together and lead them. Also, if the public wants a non-politician then he’s the only option we have. I think he’d be great.”

Reform UK sources have admitted that Mr Carns is the most problematic candidate for them, while they would “relish” taking on Mr Miliband especially over net zero.

Sir Keir is set to hold an emergency summit at Chequers this weekend with his remaining loyalist ministers.

But Labour MPs agree that with parliament set to be prorogued on Tuesday there is “no chance” of a coup before the local elections on 7 May.

Parliament does not reconvene until 13 May for the King’s speech, which would be the earliest opportunity for them to move against him.

One minister said: “I expect him to limp on until after May. I don’t know after that.”