Allies of Angela Rayner have been laying the groundwork for her to launch a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer if Labour lose today's crunch Batley and Spen by-election.
Supporters of the deputy leader are said to have been canvassing Labour MPs and trade unions to see if they would support a bid to oust Sir Keir.
Ms Rayner would need the backing of 20 per cent of the parliamentary Labour Party, 40 MPs, in order to force a contest which would see the incumbent automatically added to the ballot paper.
Supporters of Sir Keir believe that Ms Rayner is 'on manoeuvres' and they are braced for a challenge.
It comes after Sir Keir vowed he will not resign even if Labour loses today's crucial by-election.
Allies of Angela Rayner have been laying the groundwork for her to launch a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer if Labour lose today's crunch Batley and Spen by-election
Supporters of the deputy leader are said to have been canvassing Labour MPs and trade unions to see if they would support a bid to oust Sir Keir
The Batley constituency in West Yorkshire has voted Labour since 1997, but there are real concerns in the party that it could be seized by the Conservatives.
Polling published yesterday suggested as many as four in ten Labour members would want Sir Keir to stand down after a loss there.
The Labour leader is already under pressure after the party lost the Hartlepool by-election and performed poorly at 'Super Thursday' local elections back in May.
A defeat at the ballot box today will inevitably reignite questions over his long term leadership of the party, with Ms Rayner reportedly being told by supporters to challenge Sir Keir if Labour loses.
A close ally of Ms Rayner told The Times: 'There's definitely been people sounding out the possibility - it's clear she'd easily reach 40 nominations - and urging her to run if the worst happens in Batley.'
Hard-left Labour MPs said they had been approached by supporters of Ms Rayner, with one telling the newspaper: 'Angela's people are speaking to a number of comrades. Sections of the party would back her without doubt.'
However, in a sign that Sir Keir's inner circle now view a leadership challenge as increasingly likely, a source close to the leader
