As calls grow for Keir Starmer to step down, Chief Secretary Darren Jones faces scrutiny over whether he is quietly gauging support for a future leadership bid.
A prominent Labour aide at the heart of government is drawing fresh attention as his party wrestles with mounting calls for Keir Starmer to resign, with questions now swirling over whether Darren Jones is quietly gauging support for a potential leadership run.
Jones. the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. has been viewed by some colleagues as “sounding out” backing for a future bid.. The concern has been heightened by a tense moment inside the parliamentary Labour Party. where pressure is building for Starmer to step aside amid growing unrest over his leadership.
The scrutiny stems from how Jones has engaged with MPs as speculation intensifies. One source close to Jones said he has been calling MPs on behalf of No 10, but that his discussions have not involved raising his own leadership prospects and that he remains supportive of the prime minister.
Yet two other sources have indicated that these talks, while framed around the party’s mood and No 10’s communications, have also taken account of Jones’ potential path should the leadership situation change.
Jones denied that the political pressure on Starmer has reached a point where a departure is already inevitable. Appearing as government spokesperson during the media round on a busy day for Westminster, he rejected the notion that it was “all over” for the prime minister.
At the same time. he refused to rule out the possibility of further developments. particularly around whether Starmer might eventually announce a timeline for stepping down if circumstances force a change.. Jones said he would not “get ahead” of any decision the prime minister may or may not take.. He added that Starmer had been “very clear” the previous day that he would not be walking away. as some colleagues have urged.
The leadership turmoil has also brought more public involvement from Labour backbenchers. Tonia Antoniazzi, MP for Gower, was the first to publicly back Jones on Times Radio, positioning him as a credible figure should the party consider alternatives.
Antoniazzi suggested there were multiple candidates who could be acceptable to the country. adding that listeners may have heard one of them earlier during the day’s political exchanges.. She described Jones as a “clever” and “intelligent” figure. highlighting his prior role leading a select committee and praising what she said was strong leadership in his work supporting Starmer as chief secretary.
While endorsing Jones, Antoniazzi also cast doubt on other names frequently floated by Labour MPs and activists.. She said she did not believe Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. who has support from dozens of Labour MPs even though he is not part of the parliamentary party. would be a suitable option to succeed Starmer.
Antoniazzi argued that leadership choices do not always need to come from the most obvious figures. She dismissed the idea of a succession plan centered on “the King of the North,” suggesting that the party should look more broadly at who could realistically lead.
Not all assessments of Jones are positive.. A senior Labour MP who had previously described him as being unpopular with colleagues after the September reshuffle. which left many MPs unhappy. predicted that a leadership bid would struggle.. In their view. Jones lacks a solid support base among MPs. and they suggested his possible expression of interest could be driven less by a genuine bid for the top job than by a desire to secure a senior post within government.
The uncertainty around Jones’ intentions comes with added political weight because of his position and profile within the leadership team.. As chief secretary and government spokesperson. he is closely associated with how No 10 manages communications and its response to the party’s internal pressure.. That role. combined with the current wave of demands on Starmer. has made every engagement with MPs more consequential than usual.
Jones is a Labour MP for Bristol West. At the last general election, he won his seat with a majority of more than 15,000, with the Greens finishing second.
Darren Jones Keir Starmer Labour leadership No 10 parliamentary party UK politics