Lonely at the top: who are Keir Starmer’s allies as daunting May elections loom?

Prime minister has shed trusted staffers but can still turn to many genuine friends in and out of government Given that the signs of an embattled premiership are all around – defensive-sounding interviews insisting he will be in post at the next election; a rush of stories about supposed cabinet plotting – now, more than ever, Keir Starmer needs real allies. And here, at least, there is something to feel positive about. If you talk to most Labour MPs, Starmer most likely will not lead Labour int