Sir Keir Starmer despatched his chief cupboard “fixer” to try to settle down jittery Labour MPs in a mutinous temper after final week’s elections drubbing by Reform.
However as an alternative of calming nerves, cupboard workplace minister Pat McFadden warned Labour have been now dealing with “the fight of our lives” in opposition to Nigel Farage and his social gathering.
Politics newest: Farage urged to droop new councillor
Insurgent MPs claimed Mr McFadden, who spoke to as much as 100 Labour MPs in a Commons committee room for an hour, was performing as a “human shield” for the embattled prime minister.
The showdown got here because the fury of Labour MPs over winter gasoline fee cuts reached a crescendo, after Sir Keir emphatically rejected calls for for a U-turn.
The emergency assembly of the Parliamentary Labour Get together, known as at just some hours’ discover, was formally billed by the social gathering’s excessive command as a briefing on their “plan for change”.
Nevertheless it was additionally meant to move off a mutiny by Labour MPs after shock victories by Reform UK final week in county council polls, mayoral elections and the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
2:33
Key moments from native elections
No signal of a winter gasoline U-turn
Some Labour MPs have been privately vital of Sir Keir for not dealing with his backbench critics. Others stayed away, claiming the assembly was pointless as a result of the federal government was not listening to their issues.
Because of this, most of the social gathering’s most high-profile rebels on winter gasoline funds, profit cuts and different points have been absent. Veteran left-winger Diane Abbot attended however left earlier than the top, refusing to speak to journalists.
Lots of these attending have been youthful MPs elected final July and so the temper was not as acrimonious because the management might need feared. Mr McFadden was applauded on the finish of the assembly.
Talking with Treasury ministers Darren Jones and James Murray alongside him however no Rachel Reeves, who was visiting Scotland, Mr McFadden gave no trace of concessions on controversial insurance policies.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
8:27
Starmer defends winter gasoline cuts
‘Battle for the longer term’
As a substitute, he launched an assault on Mr Farage’s Reform, which senior cupboard ministers acknowledge is now an actual menace to Labour and will develop into the social gathering’s major rivals.
In response to a authorities supply current on the assembly, Mr McFadden started his speech by saying: “The big point I want to make to you is that a new fight is taking shape.
“It is a battle between our values and a nationalist politics of the best. It is a battle for the very future and the guts and soul of our nation.”
Mr McFadden was said to have criticised Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the new mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, who in her victory speech vowed Reform would “reset Britain to its superb previous”.
Picture:
Pat McFadden gave a speech on cybersecurity this morning. Pic: PA
‘We have now to win’
“That is not our project, and it won’t be our project,” Mr McFadden stated, as he stated Labour was centered on the nation’s “glorious future”.
He added: “Labour is always at its best when we look to the future. This is the fight of our lives, this is the generational fight in this new political era.
“I wish to let you know we now have to tackle this new battle for the longer term – and we now have to win.”
Mr McFadden addressed Labour MPs after Sir Keir dismayed many Labour MPs in a conflict with Tory chief Kemi Badenoch at PMQs by refusing to confess he was incorrect to take away winter gasoline funds from thousands and thousands of pensioners.
