Sir Keir Starmer was urged to shake up his failing Government with ‘real change’ – not the ‘reshuffle of nobodies’ expected this week.
The Prime Minister is said to be planning to ring the changes in his front bench team in a bid to combat the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform over the summer recess.
But, Labour backbenchers privately voiced concern that Sir Keir was understood to be planning to leave his Cabinet largely untouched, with the reshuffle focusing on junior ministerial posts.
There was also concern at reports the PM would later this year hand out a fresh batch of peerages, including to ex-No10 communications chief Matthew Doyle and Sam White, former chief of staff to Sir Keir.
One senior Labour MP told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I don’t think a reshuffle that involves junior ministers will change the dial for the Government.
‘To the public, most ministers below Cabinet level are pretty much nobodies.
‘Sacking this nobody and then promoting another won’t make a lot of difference – nor will promising peerages to former Labour staffers.
‘The public will see that as a reward for Keir’s cronies.’
Instead, the MP said: ‘We need a fundamental rethink and real change with different people brought in to signal a change of direction.’
However, Starmer allies hit out at the criticism, saying Labour MPs should be giving the PM their backing, not carping from the sidelines.
Downing Street sources would not be drawn last night on the scope of any reshuffle.
But they did deny rumours that Helen MacNamara, the former ethics chief who was caught up in the No10 ‘partygate’ scandal, would be returning to a senior role.