Sir Keir Starmer is “hiding” from his own MPs as Labour backbenchers plot a revolt against his flailing leadership, it has been claimed. Conservative MP, and Express columnist, Esther McVey launched a blistering attack on the embattled Prime Minister accusing him of going to ground as rebellion ferments on his own benches.
Speaking on the Daily Expresso podcast, the former Cabinet minister painted a devastating picture of a leader “universally disliked” and increasingly isolated from his own party. Ms McVey, the MP for Tatton, said Sir Keir had attempted to stage a comeback at the start of 2026 after months of disasters. She said: “He was hoping to do a relaunch, a ‘Save Starmer’ relaunch.”
Starmer has been accused of ‘hiding’ from MPs (Image: Henry Nicholls/PA Wire)
But the Prime Minister had proved to be “totally irrelevant” both at home and abroad, and “out of touch” with what was actually happening in the world.
Ms McVey claimed Sir Keir was being “frozen out” of major international events, pointing to how he appeared to have been sidelined on the world stage, after President Donald Trump’s daring raid on Venezuela, and the President’s threats to seize Greenland.
She delivered a scathing assessment of the Prime Minister’s standing, saying: “He is universally disliked, and his tactic […] is to hide from his MPs, hide from the media, and hide from the electorate.”
When questioned by Express Deputy Political Editor Steph Spyro about the mood among Labour backbenchers, Ms McVey revealed the Prime Minister was deliberately avoiding his own MPs. She said: “He has been hiding from them,” pointing to Sir Keir’s response on Venezuela, which provoked fury from a slew of his own MPs.
The Conservative MP claimed the Prime Minister had “stayed out of the way” and allowed Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to take the lead instead of fronting up himself. Ms McVey suggested Sir Keir was “too weak” to condemn the US military action in Venezuela because “he wants to be friends with Trump.”
She accused the Labour leader of lacking backbone, saying Sir Keir Starmer “doesn’t have guiding principles” and “doesn’t know what to do.” The Tory MP warned that discontent was now boiling over on the Labour benches, declaring: “It is now open season, his backbenchers feel they can attack him.”
She said even MPs who had been fiercely loyal to the Prime Minister were reaching breaking point after being forced to defend his constant policy reversals. Ms McVey added: “Some of these backbenchers who have been incredibly loyal, have suffered Starmer’s u-turns.”
Esther said there was a ‘revolt’ from Labour MPs (Image: Daily Expresso)
The rebellion is being fuelled by growing anger from constituents, with pub landlords across the country launching campaigns to bar Labour MPs from their premises in protest at crippling business rates hikes. Commenting on the nationwide fury, Ms McVey said: “You can see the pain they are starting to feel.”
She claimed Labour MPs were beginning to realise they needed to act before it was too late, warning that Sir Keir was “destroying the country.” The Conservative MP said she had witnessed firsthand the “agitation” from Labour MPs about their leader’s performance in Parliament.
And in a bombshell claim, Ms McVey suggested plotting was already underway to replace the Prime Minister. She said: “Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband are a combo.” The former Deputy Prime Minister was said to be actively scheming against Sir Keir, Ms McVey claimed, saying Rayner “is plotting.”
But she suggested other names were also being floated as potential replacements among disgruntled Labour MPs. Ms McVey said Labour backbenchers should consider Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood or Health Secretary Wes Streeting as alternatives to the floundering Prime Minister.
Labour’s ‘secret plot’ to hammer drivers with 700% hikes exposed
EXCLUSIVE: Labour has been coordinating a ‘secret plot’ to hammer Britain’s motorists again, as councils beg for more cash.
Labour’s ‘secret plot’ has been exposed. (Image: GETTY)
Labour council bosses have been plotting with Ministers to hammer drivers with up to 700% hikes in parking fines, the Daily Express can reveal. Damning papers reveal how left-wing councils have been quietly pushing Sir Keir Starmer’s government to squeeze motorists even more, despite drivers already being slapped with rising charges and heavy-handed enforcement.
The dossier reveals a staggering 44.8 million requests for driver details were made to the DVLA in 2024-25, more than the 33 million registered vehicles on UK roads. And eight of the 10 councils making the most requests are Labour-run, with Birmingham topping the list with 831,860 made just last year. The bombshell papers show local authorities complaining they can’t balance their books as they beg for sharper penalties to plug the holes.
But while hard-pressed families tighten their belts in a deepening cost of living crisis, big spending councils are refusing to cut waste and opting to hammer motorists instead.
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden MP said: “Behind closed doors, a secret plot is unfolding that would drive through huge increases in parking fines, which could be up to 700 per cent.”
The money grab comes as debt-ridden Labour councils blow millions on vanity projects whilst crying poverty. Debt-stricken, Labour-run Blackpool Council splashed £35,000 on rainbow road crossings in Pride flag colours to celebrate the town’s “long-established LGBTQ+ history.”
Labour-run Camden Council, which can boast Sir Keir as a ratepayer, spent almost £11,000 on taxi fares for its mayor and deputy mayor, despite employing a full-time chauffeur. Sir Keir’s local town hall overspent its budget by a staggering £22.8million in the 2024-25 financial year.
Early last year the Government confirmed it was actively considering raising parking fines, even as a host of councils across the country hikes charges, including in Bournemouth where Ministers trialled a one-month pilot to increase fines to levels only seen in London.
In a move that senior Tories branded a ‘cover-up’, Labour Ministers twice refused to come clean and release the information to MPs.
Parliament was kept in the dark until Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden MP forced the issue with a point of order in the Commons, prompting a humiliating climbdown, a correction and a formal apology from the Department for Transport.
The documents finally released paint a bleak picture of councils leaning ever more heavily on penalties to prop up their budgets.
MP Richard Holden SLAMMED the plot. (Image: GETTY)
A staggering 70% of councils report motorists regularly receiving and paying multiple fines, often 20 to 30 or more, with some drivers openly treating penalties as cheap parking fees. Meanwhile, 46% of councils have increased standard parking charges to cover the rising cost of enforcement, meaning that compliant motorists are now absorbing the financial burden left by repeat offenders.
Labour now finds itself caught between left-wing councils demanding more revenue from drivers and Ministers trying to pretend none of it is happening. Mr Holden said that Labour Ministers “wanted to hide” the Labour council plotting. He said: “Once again, drivers are being taken for a ride, and everyone knows it. Keir Starmer doesn’t have the backbone to stand up to his own left-wing councils or to be honest with the public about what they’re planning. They need to come clean about who’s really pushing for higher fines.
He added: “Labour in town halls, Labour in Whitehall, it’s the same story every time. Lose control of the finances, panic, then go after working people to fill the gap.”
The scandal comes as parking enforcement has surged to record levels, with councils and private firms requesting driver details from the DVLA 44.8million times in 2024-25. exceeding the 33million registered vehicles on UK roads. Eight of the 10 councils making the most requests are Labour-run, with Birmingham topping the list with 831,860 requests.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “These claims are false. The parking sector has provided evidence on current fine levels, which we will carefully consider and respond to in due course.”
