Starmer Survives Labour Revolt as UK GDP Rises 0.6%

7 articles · Updated · The Independent · May 14

Wes Streeting failed to trigger a Labour leadership contest, leaving Sir Keir Starmer in place as potential rivals lacked the numbers or appetite to move against him.
Rachel Reeves used stronger-than-expected 0.6% quarterly GDP growth to argue that ousting Starmer would plunge Britain into chaos just as the government's economic plan was showing results.
Bond-market pressure also helped shut down the revolt: gilt yields had broken above 5%, sharpening fears that a softer-left successor could spark a Truss-style backlash and higher borrowing costs.
Other possible challengers were constrained as well — Andy Burnham has yet to secure a by-election route to Westminster, while Angela Rayner is seen as unwilling to inherit a broken party and paralysed government.
After catastrophic local election results shook Labour, the aborted coup appears to have strengthened Starmer's image for now, shifting the focus back to restoring political and fiscal stability.

With the UK economy growing, why did the ruling Labour party almost topple its own Prime Minister?

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How did Chancellor Reeves use the ghost of a past crisis to halt a leadership challenge?