Who are the main threats to Keir Starmer's Labour leadership?

"Streeting is considered to be on the right of the party, formerly close to Peter Mandelson, and a leading light of the Blairite Progress wing. However, he has been veering to the left for some time, on the issues of Gaza and welfare, no doubt with an eye on the Labour membership who are likely to be the ones to decide the next leader of the party. As long ago as January, there were briefings from some supporters that he had 200 MPs lined up to back him in the parliamentary party although some opponents say it is complete nonsense that half of the party are behind him."

"Once close to No 10 and the former adviser Morgan McSweeney, Streeting appeared to drift away from Starmer as early as last autumn, as speculation about his own leadership ambitions began to heat up. He attempted to get on the front foot by releasing text messages, including one about him fearing he was toast at the next election, and others where he criticised the government for having no growth strategy. At the time of the Mandelson scandal, some support appeared to drift away from him given his friendship with the machiavellian former peer."

"He faces substantial hurdles to becoming the leader, with a soft-left choice potentially more favoured by the membership and some Stop Wes MPs determined to do everything possible to prevent his candidacy. Backbench MP and former deputy leader The former deputy leader has not confirmed she would definitely run. However, her allies say she is getting prepared, even though she is not dead set on becoming the candidate of the soft left the middle-ground position between Labour's right and the harder left."

"Having stepped down over an HMRC inquiry about her tax affairs, Rayner had hoped to have put the affair behind her by now. The health secretary is widely thought to be the most ready for a leadership contest, and the one who stands to gain from a competition right now given Andy Burnham is not an MP and Angela Rayner still has an unresolved tax problem."

Streeting is widely viewed as the most prepared for a Labour leadership contest and as the candidate who could benefit most right now. Andy Burnham cannot run because he is not an MP, while Angela Rayner’s leadership chances are constrained by unresolved tax problems. Streeting is associated with the Blairite Progress wing and has been considered on the right, but he has moved left on Gaza and welfare, aiming to win over Labour’s membership, which is expected to decide the next leader. Support for Streeting among MPs is claimed by some supporters but dismissed by opponents. He has also distanced himself from Starmer earlier than expected, while facing hurdles from soft-left preferences and MPs determined to block his candidacy. Rayner has not confirmed a run and is still navigating the fallout from an HMRC inquiry.

Read at www.theguardian.com