Labour MPs are plotting to oust Sir Keir Starmer by running as a 'stalking horse' to trigger a leadership contest.
After another disastrous week for the Prime Minister – in which he had to battle to keep Rachel Reeves in post as Chancellor after a row over her rental property – despairing ministers are talking openly about moving against him after this month's Budget.
With the party's poll rating sinking below that of the Greens in some surveys, MPs are assessing support for Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, despite her resigning only a few weeks ago over her tax affairs.
There are even suggestions that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who led Labour to defeat in the 2015 general election, could mount a shock comeback because of his popularity with grassroots party members.
However, one ex-Minister branded that the 'scary Halloween' option on Saturday night – suggesting a second coming for Mr Miliband would mean a second election defeat under his leadership.
The manoeuvres came amid predictions by a senior Labour source that tensions over Sir Keir's faltering premiership and the party's dismal poll ratings will come to a head after Ms Reeves' expected tax-raising Budget later this month
One former Minister said yesterday: 'You can't meet anybody, including Cabinet Ministers, Junior Ministers or backbenchers who is not talking about Starmer. It's not about when he should go, it's about who the possible replacement is.'
But with none of the potential candidates expected to act unilaterally to mount a challenge, some MPs say that a 'stalking horse' would be needed – a political term for a token candidate who mounts a bid in order to trigger a full-scale contest.
Labour MPs are plotting to oust Sir Keir Starmer by running as a 'stalking horse' to trigger a leadership contest
Some Labour MPs are assessing support for Health Secretary Wes Streeting
They are also looking into Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood
Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, despite her resigning only a few weeks ago over her tax affairs, is also being assessed
There are even suggestions that Energy Secretary and former party leader Ed Miliband could mount a shock comeback
Such a candidate needs the backing of 80 MPs to stand for leader.
One name mentioned as a possible 'stalking horse' is Louise Haigh, who was forced to quit as Transport Secretary last year after it emerged she had a conviction for fraud over a mobile phone theft.
On Friday, Ms Haigh used an appearance on BBC1's Have I Got News For You to mount a veiled attack on Sir Keir for treating Ms Reeves' case differently to hers.
Ms Haigh, who insists the Prime Minister was aware of her conviction, also pointedly declined to say whether Sir Keir 'was lying' over claims he only accepted her resignation after 'further information' emerged last year.
However, on Saturday night, one senior MP said he doubted she would stand as a stalking horse, adding it was 'most likely going to be an older MP who is standing down at the next election'.
'It would force genuine contenders to stand,' he said.
'And if there were two serious people throwing their hats into the ring, I think Starmer would see that he wouldn't win and step down.'
Other MPs are hoping that a 'coronation' can be arranged for Mr Streeting, with Ms Rayner making a swift political comeback as his Left-wing deputy to counter fears that the Health Secretary is too 'Blairite'.
A so-called coronation – or leadership shortlist of one leader and deputy – would potentially avoid the need for a full-scale ballot of all Labour party members.
Streeting backers are afraid he would not win against a more Left-wing rival such as Mr Miliband.
One MP said: 'Wes needs a deputy who's on the Left, and that's why there's been talk of a Streeting/Rayner joint ticket.'
At the Labour Party's annual conference a few weeks ago, Mr Streeting was greeted with cheers when he called for Ms Rayner to make a comeback less than a month after she was forced to quit over an underpaid stamp duty bill on her new seaside home.
However, some party insiders are convinced that Ms Rayner will mount her own Labour leadership bid, with one MP describing her Commons resignation speech 11 days ago as the ex Deputy Prime Minister as: 'I am still in the race and I will get my own back.'
But another Labour MP said 'even some people on the Left like Wes' and suggested party rules could be changed to allow the Health Secretary to 'chicken run' from his Ilford North seat – where he has a tiny 528 majority – to a safer seat before the next election.
As for the Chancellor, Ms Reeves was last week being privately derided by Labour MPs as 'badly damaged', 'very weak' and 'a disaster'.
One said: 'She would have been sacked in normal circumstances. I have heard that is only keeping her on so that she absorbs the blame for the Budget, and then he will bring in another Chancellor in the New Year.'
They added: 'If he is still around, that is.'