Keir Starmer faces backlash from Labor MPs for ‘misjudging’ public mood over Meghan’s claims

Sir Keir Starmer faces bitter backlash from Labor MPs for ‘reeling’ over Meghan’s claim of racism about the Royal Family and for ‘botching’ the party’s tax plans.

They say their leader “misjudged” the public’s mood by seemingly too sympathetic to the explosive claims of the Duchess of Sussex in her first reaction.

They claim it sent a ‘terrible message’ to patriotic voters at the so-called ‘Red Wall’ in the North and Midlands that Labor must win back from the Conservatives.

Sir Keir angered some northern Labor MPs with his initial reaction to Meghan’s accusation of racism within the Royal Family.

But Labor MPs are also furious that they were initially told not to oppose conservative income tax increases on the budget only to be ordered to vote against it last week.

The angry mood comes amid predictions that the party will face ‘disastrous’ results in May’s local elections, with insiders even fearful of losing overall control in Wales and not winning the West Midlands mayoral contest. .

Last night, even a member of Sir Keir’s front-row team admitted that the leader’s operation had to improve dramatically.

But the shadow minister, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called it “ridiculous” to speak of a challenge to the leader after the May elections.

Sir Keir angered some northern Labor MPs with his initial reaction to Meghan’s accusation of racism within the Royal Family.

Speaking in East London on Monday, the Labor leader said the race and mental health issues were ‘really serious’ and said:’ It’s a reminder, whether you’re in East London or in Meghan’s situation, too many people still experience racism in the 21st century. Brittany.’

They say their leader “ misjudged ” the public’s mood by seemingly too sympathetic to the Duchess of Sussex’s explosive claims in her first reaction.

When asked if the Royal Family as an institution was’ fit for purpose ‘, Sir Keir replied:’ We will have to see how the institution reacts to this. . .is bigger in a sense than just the Royal Family. ‘

His comments provoked the derision of some Labor MPs as a pale imitation of Tony Blair’s famous intervention as ‘People’s Princess’ after Diana’s death in 1997.

Later in the week, Sir Keir appeared to back down, stating that the Palace had now responded to Meghan’s allegations, ‘and I think it’s a family affair now.’

But a former shadow minister told The Mail on Sunday that his party leader’s initial comments sent a ‘terrible message’ to many traditional Labor voters who respect the Queen.

He said: ‘Keir already had a problem with a lot of voters in our core areas because he was very much against Brexit and he is a Southerner representing a North London seat.

“The lesson from the last election was that many of our traditional voters turned us down because they didn’t like Corbyn because they didn’t see him as a patriot.

“If this was Keir taking sides, he chose the wrong side for many people that we need to regain,” added the former shadow minister.

But there is also anger over Labor’s last-minute sweeping change over Rishi Sunak’s budget plan to freeze income tax thresholds as the first stage in recovering costs from the pandemic.

Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds had initially signaled that Labor would not oppose the move.

But 48 hours before the key vote on the budget, shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy announced that the party would vote against the plan.

Last night, an informant from the party said that ‘there was a lot of rioting between Keir’s office and Anneliese Dodds and eventually Keir overpowered it. But we should have acted sooner.

Labor sources insisted that Sir Keir had not removed his shadow chancellor, saying they had “worked closely” on the Conservatives’ plans to “raise taxes on families amid an economic crisis.” Sir Keir’s office declined to comment.