{"id":27250,"date":"2026-05-02T17:23:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T17:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/27250\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T17:23:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T17:23:39","slug":"anyone-but-labour-inside-cabinet-anger-as-voters-vent-fury-at-starmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/27250\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Anyone but Labour.’ Inside Cabinet anger as voters vent fury at Starmer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s team breathed a quiet sigh of relief when Parliament broke up for a two-week recess with the Prime Minister still in his job<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is a measure of his profound weakness that simply surviving from week to week now counts as a victory. And the terrorist stabbing attack in North London<\/a> which happened on the same day was a reminder that away from Westminster, this country faces profound challenges.<\/p>\n

But fears the Peter Mandelson scandal could topple the premier<\/a> even before the upcoming local elections did not come to pass. Evidence given by Morgan McSweeney to a committee of MPs investigating Mandelson\u2019s appointment as Washington Ambassador are proving helpful rather than undermining Starmer further.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tShorts \u2013 Quick stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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Can you learn to love pigeons? A much-unloved animal in the UK<\/p>\n

Features writer Kasia Delgado went on a safari to see if she
could look past their rat-like nature<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

The tour guide<\/p>\n

People think pigeons are stupid but lots of studies have shown them to have amazing memories, that they can identify people by their facial features, and they have an extraordinary sense of direction.<\/p>\n

Florence Wilkinson, author of Wild City: Encounters with Urban Wildlife, took Kasia on a tour.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nPositives of pigeons\n<\/p>\n

War heroes<\/p>\n

During the Second World War, carrier pigeons were routinely used to send messages, and they saved thousands of lives.<\/p>\n

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Homing ability<\/p>\n

Scientists have put them in blacked-out vans and put miniature goggles on them to blur their vision and still the pigeons manage to return home.<\/p>\n

The Dove family<\/p>\n

We think of them as all grey, but they vary in shades, and some of them are quite amazingly coloured, says Florence.<\/p>\n

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\"\" <\/p>\n

Kasia\u2019s feeding test<\/p>\n

As I gingerly chuck some seed, wincing slightly, 15 or so flap their wings at me. I wouldn\u2019t say I feel content or relaxed but I don\u2019t hate it as much as I thought I would.
I can see they\u2019re not going to do me harm and after all, they\u2019re just enjoying some free food.<\/p>\n

\nA common myth?\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Disease carriers<\/p>\n

Research has found that between 1941 and 2004, there were only 207 reports worldwide of pathogens transmitted from pigeons to humans.<\/p>\n

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Not all walks are
created equal<\/p>\n

Read on to find out how to supercharge yours into an unbeatable health-builder<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nHow to supercharge your walk\n<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Get a bit breathless<\/p>\n

All walking paces are linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease but there are additional gains made by those who walk at a moderate-to-vigorous intensity.<\/p>\n

Walk uphill<\/p>\n

Try to find varying inclines to increase energy and muscle burn.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Add weights<\/p>\n

The extra resistance challenges your heart to work harder, increasing cardiovascular fitness.<\/p>\n

\nHow to supercharge your walk\n<\/p>\n

Uneven ground<\/p>\n

Mountainous and uneven terrain work your stabilising muscles harder, increasing the difficulty and output from your walk.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Go Nordic<\/p>\n

Using poles engages the arms as well as the legs and core, turning walking into a full-body workout.<\/p>\n

\nA walk is beneficial at any time of day, but after eating could be best. Research has found that 10- to 30-minute walks taken 10 to 30 minutes after a meal can reduce the peak blood-sugar measurements reached.\n<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Slower and lower blood sugar throughout the day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n

\nHow to supercharge your walk\n<\/p>\n

Go green<\/p>\n

Walking in nature has more psychological benefits than concrete. It\u2019s shown to significantly reduce anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Improve your posture<\/p>\n

Staying tall through the spine, open your chest and keep your eyes forward (not leaning over on your phone..).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meet outside<\/p>\n

Walking is a good time to have conversations, whether with your boss or a friend.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nMistakes to avoid\n<\/p>\n

1Focusing on step count \u2013 most research suggests that benefits plateau at 7,000 steps a day.<\/p>\n

2Using ankle weights \u2013 they can tug at the hip flexors and the knees.<\/p>\n

3 Doing one-and-done \u2013 just hiking for three hours on the weekend, and nothing throughout the week, means you\u2019re missing out on benefits.<\/p>\n

4Thinking it\u2019s not a workout \u2013 walking packs in cardio and brain-boosting effects without the recovery time of intense exercise.<\/p>\n

Eight million people in the UK are living with heart or circulatory disease<\/p>\n

And while chest pain is a well-known symptom, there are more subtle signs you should be aware of too.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nOverlooked signs of heart disease\n<\/p>\n

Dizziness and fainting<\/p>\n

An abnormal heart rhythm can cause a dizzy feeling. While much dizziness is not serious, it can be associated with life-threatening complications.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Increased breathlessness<\/p>\n

This breathlessness could be due to blockages and reduced blood flow in the arteries.<\/p>\n

Swollen ankles<\/p>\n

Unusual swelling can indicate a problem with the body\u2019s circulatory system and kidneys.<\/p>\n

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\"\" <\/p>\n

Worsening fatigue<\/p>\n

Ongoing and worsening fatigue can\u202findicate\u202fan underlying health issue, and it could be a sign\u202fthat your heart\u202fisn\u2019t\u202fworking as effectively as it should be. If persistent fatigue is impacting you day-to-day, the best thing to do is speak with your doctor.<\/p>\n

Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation<\/p>\n

\nOverlooked signs of heart disease\n<\/p>\n

Indigestion-type symptoms
Discomfort in the stomach, chest and ribs, or a burning sensation in the chest area, could all be symptoms of heart disease.<\/p>\n

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Erectile dysfunction
If it\u2019s an ongoing issue, there could be an underlying health problem, including atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), diabetes or high blood pressure.<\/p>\n

Emotional detachment is a key life skill<\/p>\n

Read on to find out how to embrace it, from GP Dr Radha<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Healthy detachment<\/p>\n

[Detachment] is not selfish \u2013 we can still care and empathise. We don\u2019t avoid, we just balance and respond rather than react because we are not too invested in the outcome. This is very different from emotional numbing, which often happens after trauma.<\/p>\n

dr Radha Modgil<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nWhen we need detachment\n<\/p>\n

Toxic friendships<\/p>\n

When you feel that an interaction brings out the worst in you, or that you are having to watch everything you say or do.<\/p>\n

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Dysfunctional families<\/p>\n

Healthy detachment is helpful when we become overly invested in trying to control or fix someone.<\/p>\n

Work issues<\/p>\n

It\u2019s helpful in situations you are not in control of and helps you leave work behind at 5pm.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nHow to start it\n<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Examine your beliefs<\/p>\n

You may have been conditioned to think that it is your responsibility to fix everything. Is this a fact or based on old patterns?<\/p>\n

Look at the impact<\/p>\n

Consider what negative impact your \u201cfixing\u201d has; it can keep situations stuck, or infantilise others from growing up.<\/p>\n

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Which problems are in your control? <\/p>\n

Understanding what problems are ours to hold and which aren\u2019t can help avoid emotional burnout.<\/p>\n

\nHow to maintain it\n<\/p>\n

Firm boundaries<\/p>\n

This means understanding your sense of self, what is yours and what is not and sticking to it.<\/p>\n

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\"\" <\/p>\n

Self-care<\/p>\n

Recognise and look after your own energy levels,\u00a0mental health and your need to live your own life.<\/p>\n

Be objective<\/p>\n

Try to have a factual, calm, rational attitude in moments of conflict. This includes trying to release the need to control.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

I spent a week in the world\u2019s happiest country<\/p>\n

Here are the five ways I
brought Finnish culture back to the UK.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nSauna, sauna, sauna\n<\/p>\n

A regular Finnish sauna boasts a wealth of health benefits: improved cardiovascular health, reduced blood pressure, lower risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

In Finnish culture, the sauna is available for everyone: it\u2019s the great equaliser and forms a gently ritualistic part of the day.<\/p>\n

\nImmerse yourself in nature\n<\/p>\n

It is enshrined in Finnish law that anyone living in or visiting Finland has the freedom to roam the countryside, forage, fish, ski, or camp temporarily.<\/p>\n

70 per cent of Finland is forest and they have an estimated 180,000 lakes, of which Lake Saimaa (the one I visited) is the largest.<\/p>\n

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\"\" <\/p>\n

It plays into the Finns\u2019 love of solitude: having space to think. I have found myself not only treasuring the greenery I can find in London.<\/p>\n

\nEastl local and drink coffee\n<\/p>\n

Finnish diet<\/p>\n

Diets are rich in oily fish and local produce: whole grains, Arctic berries, dairy, wild mushrooms, and game like reindeer.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Coffee<\/p>\n

The Finns are the number one coffee drinkers in the world. This is both a social ritual and a historic legacy.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m cherishing my coffee breaks that bit more, as well as enjoying smoked fish and pickles for lunch <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Have fun<\/p>\n

Play is embedded from early childhood, as it is seen as a fundamental pillar of development. For every 45-minute lesson, children enjoy unstructured play for 15 mins.<\/p>\n

While adults don\u2019t get the same level of structured play, hobbies and a clear demarcation between work and life ensure adults retain a sense of leisure. Every year in July, businesses slow down.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nDo not take the good for granted\n<\/p>\n

Finns actively remember not only their suffering through the war, but the fact that the peace they enjoy requires constant maintenance.<\/p>\n

\"PeopleGreenwich Park (Photo: AP Photo\/Joanna Chan)<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Since my visit, I am actively appreciating things like London\u2019s public transport system, or the number of parks my dog can run in. We are fools if we take it for granted.<\/p>\n

Inflammation can be harmful.
But it is possible to lower it through lifestyle changes.<\/p>\n

We asked the experts the habits you can instill to reduce levels.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\nDietary changes\n<\/p>\n

Fruit and veg<\/p>\n

Research suggests high intakes of fruit and vegetables are linked with lower inflammatory markers, says dietitican Sammie Gill.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Healthy fats<\/p>\n

Omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish, nuts, seeds and olive oil are all beneficial in fighting inflammation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Established diets<\/p>\n

Certain patterns, like the Mediterranean diet, can help control long-term inflammation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nWhat to use and what to avoid\n<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Use turmeric and black pepper<\/p>\n

Herbs and spices are an easy way of adding anti-inflammatory plant compounds to your diet.<\/p>\n

Drink green tea<\/p>\n

Keeping hydrated by drinking enough water helps your body function, and herbal teas can have added benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"\" <\/p>\n

Eat blueberries<\/p>\n

Women eating a handful of blueberries a day can help lower their high blood pressure.<\/p>\n

\nLorem ipsum\n<\/p>\n

Regularly, not randomly<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key is consistency, even light, regular activity is better than long, intense workouts once in a while,\u201d says Dr Maz Mwambazi, a GP.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"\" <\/p>\n

Yoga<\/p>\n

Building muscle through weight lifting can help, as can mind-body practices like yoga, which combine physical postures, breathing, and meditation.<\/p>\n

Prioritise fun<\/p>\n

Chronic stress can contribute to inflammation, says Dr Rangan Chatterjee \u2013 so partake in activities which help you manage or reduce your stress levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Finding a hobby you enjoy, spending time in nature and spending time connecting with friends and family have all been shown to reduce stress.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s certainly been a galvanising and unifying experience for MPs,\u201d a Cabinet minister remarked. \u201cI think some of the more outlandish versions of reality have been dealt with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018No one has a clue\u2019 \u2013 frustration at failure to publicise Labour help with cost of living<\/p>\n

But Labour\u2019s long-term problems remain unsolved. The party is struggling to reach 20 per cent in the polls and is almost certain to take heavy losses in the elections for councils across England and the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, which take place on Thursday.<\/p>\n

For most people in the party, other than the now-small Corbynite faction on the left, there is a feeling that Starmer has the right policies \u2013 such as the Renters Rights Act which has just come into force \u2013 but is doing a poor job of explaining them to voters, perhaps not helped by the fact that he has employed four different directors of communications during his time in No 10.<\/p>\n

One Cabinet minister told The i Paper they were struck by how few people were aware of the measures the Government had ushered in that would help ease the cost-of-living burden while out campaigning for the local elections.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople would complain that we\u2019re not doing anything to help, and I would say: \u2018But you realise your state pension is going up by \u00a3500 this month, that you\u2019re getting \u00a3100 off your energy bills despite the disruption in the Middle East?\u2019 Stuff like that and no one had a clue,\u201d the minister said. \u201cIt points to a serious problem in our communications that we\u2019re just not getting our messaging out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

A separate member of the Cabinet agreed, but sympathised with the challenge the Prime Minister faces in getting his message across in the fragmented landscape of the modern media.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one is getting their news from newspapers and broadcasters anymore,\u201d they lamented. \u201cIt\u2019s all on their phones and it is so much harder to cut through.\u201d<\/p>\n

No 10 insiders argue that the comms operation has improved over the past couple of months \u2013 ironically, while the director of communications job has been absent following the resignation of Mandelson ally Tim Allan.<\/p>\n

\u2018To be told to get f***ed every weekend is grating\u2019<\/p>\n

No one in Labour has much enjoyed the election campaign in recent weeks. \u201cTo go out every weekend and knock doors, and get told to get f***ed, that\u2019s grating,\u201d one MP complained \u2013 adding that Starmer was often \u201cnamechecked on the door\u201d as a reason not to vote for the party.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot harder campaigning from government than from opposition,\u201d a minister wryly observed.<\/p>\n

Opposition parties are more upbeat \u2013 not just the insurgent Reform UK and Greens, but also the Liberal Democrats and even the Conservatives who are hoping to take seats off Labour in some areas even while losing elsewhere to Reform and the Lib Dems.<\/p>\n

A gleeful Tory reported: \u201cYou knock on people\u2019s doors and they say \u2018anyone but Labour\u2019 \u2013 it used to be \u2018anyone but Tory\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n

Labour is widely forecast to lose the majority of council seats it currently holds, with the Greens the biggest threat in big cities and Reform doing well in towns and rural areas. <\/p>\n

Pollster Joe Twyman of Deltapoll said that even if the dire predictions hold true, there is still a chance that Starmer can find glimmers of hope which will allow him to argue that he has outperformed rock-bottom expectations.<\/p>\n

He told The i Paper: \u201cThe thing about local elections is, because they are so difficult for the person in the street to get their head around, they look to cues from parties and from the media as to what the main stories are \u2013 and you can always tell a positive story. It may be that the management of expectations is sufficient to placate the wolves at the door \u2013 but equally, it may not and it depends on the detail of the results.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Next week will be grim. We have to be much bolder\u2019<\/p>\n

The aftermath will present a challenge for Labour in any case, Twyman added, as the Prime Minister will have to decide whether to start prioritising voters in one type of seat at the expense of those elswehere. <\/p>\n

He said: \u201cDo you give up on the Reform voters and concentrate on getting back the progressives and the \u2018one nation\u2019 Tories? In which case, those MPs in the more Reform areas start to think \u2018well I\u2019m f***ed\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few days after the elections, Starmer will present a King\u2019s Speech containing more than two dozen proposed bills which he will argue are driving Britain in a more progressive direction. \u201cNext week will be grim. We have to be much bolder,\u201d a loyal Cabinet minister said. \u201cAnd we will be bolder. I want to see more of the angry Keir, where he goes off script. That\u2019s the Keir we know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,King Charles in November 2023. Keir Starmer is hoping his next King\u2019s speech will be a reset (Photo: Alastair Grant WPA Pool\/Getty)<\/p>\n

At some point before the end of May, however, the ghost of Mandelson will return to haunt the Prime Minister. Parliament\u2019s intelligence and security committee has finished poring over thousands of documents relating to his ambassadorial appointment, and has advised the Government on which should be held back or censored \u2013 everything else will be published, pending a back-and-forth between the committee and Downing Street on any security-related details.<\/p>\n

The expected double blow of a poor set of elections and further Mandelson revelations explains why the chances of a formal challenge to Starmer remain the talk of Westminster.<\/p>\n

One option to try and shore up the Prime Minister\u2019s authority would be a Cabinet reshuffle soon after the election results are out. Downing Street insiders have suggested Starmer is leaning away from this idea, but the very suggestion is causing parts of the Government to seize up. <\/p>\n

\u2018Miliband is a real possibility\u2019<\/p>\n

One adviser to a current minister said they felt \u201cin limbo\u201d while their boss\u2019s future hangs in the balance: \u201cPeople keep trying to book meetings with them and I don\u2019t know if they\u2019ll even have a job by then.\u201d<\/p>\n

But regardless of how he tries to regain the initiative, the assumption remains that if a Labour big beast decides to lead a putsch against Starmer, then he is heading for the exit. Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are seen as the frontrunners to replace him \u2013 or Andy Burnham, the party\u2019s most popular senior figure, though he is currently ineligible to take over as leader because he is not an MP.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople just need to calm the f*** down,\u201d a Cabinet minister said. \u201cI\u2019d point out that we\u2019re not even halfway through the electoral cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perhaps what is most likely to keep the Prime Minister in place over the coming months is a failure by the various contenders to win support beyond their own pre-existing ideological allies.<\/p>\n

One MP warned while Streeting would struggle to win over Labour members, a Rayner victory would mean \u201cAngela for 44 days\u201d \u2013 suggesting the former deputy prime minister would crash out of Downing Street after a similarly short tenure to Liz Truss.<\/p>\n

They also described it as \u201cquite worrying\u201d that Burnham was viewed as a panacea for Labour\u2019s problems, questioning: \u201cIs he that good? It\u2019s quite easy being a mayor. Is that really what it\u2019s come to?\u201d<\/p>\n

The upshot if all the front-runners prove too divisive could be Ed Miliband in No 10, despite his previous failed stint as Labour leader. \u201cColleagues need to be aware this is a real possibility,\u201d the MP said. \u201cThings can always get worse.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s team breathed a quiet sigh of relief when Parliament broke up for a two-week recess…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27251,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[3135,94,31,2019,5,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-27250","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uk","8":"tag-iweekend","9":"tag-keir-starmer","10":"tag-labour-party","11":"tag-politics-long-read","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/116506145879106355","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}