Sir Keir Starmer may have bullishly suggested he hopes to be Prime Minister for a decade this weekend but the chances of him leading Labour into the next election are diminishing on a daily basis.

The Prime Minister will seek to set out a “fresh direction” today as he battles to save his job.

His latest reset will somehow need to be the start of an extraordinary political turnaround as forces within Labour increasingly marshal against him in the wake of the party’s humbling local election results.

Former junior minister Catherine West is attempting to accelerate a change at the top by declaring her intention to launch a leadership bid in a move designed to force a response from Cabinet ministers who for the time being are remaining publicly loyal to the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the media after meeting Labour Party members during a visit to AFC Wimbledon in south London. Picture: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire

placeholder image — Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking to the media after meeting Labour Party members during a visit to AFC Wimbledon in south London. Picture: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire

Whether or not her attempt succeeds, Labour MPs are increasingly talking publicly about not if Sir Keir should be replaced but when.

However, it still remains to be seen whether Labour have a feasible route forward without descending into the type of prolonged leadership contest that so damaged the Conservatives when they followed Boris Johnson’s departure by eventually choosing Liz Truss, who rapidly proved to be entirely ill-suited to high office.

Avoiding their own Truss moment will be high on the agenda for many Labour MPs – and is likely to buy the Prime Minister some time as a result.

But turning that time into anything more than a stay of execution will require political skills of the highest order from Sir Keir; skills which he has yet to show any signs of displaying in Downing Street.