Can Starmer and Reeves hold the Labour Party together? Ask John Rentoul anything

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (right) crying as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister’s Questions - (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

Welcome to an exclusive Ask Me Anything session with me, John Rentoul, The Independent’s chief political commentator.

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Recent attempts by Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership to tackle welfare reform have exposed deep tensions within Labour, shaking its identity to the core.

The standoff over disability benefits, with dramatic rebellions from both loyalist and Corbynite MPs alike, laid bare the struggles Labour faces in balancing fiscal responsibility with social justice.

Starmer’s handling of the revolt has damaged his standing, and it seems that only deputy leader Angela Rayner emerged stronger, prompting whispers about the future leadership of the party.

It comes as former Labour MP Zarah Sultana announced she will co-lead a new political party with ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, accusing the government of having “completely failed to improve people’s lives.”

Sultana, who lost the Labour whip last year after voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap, had remained a member of the party despite no longer sitting as a Labour MP.

So, can Labour survive this identity crisis?

Can the party reconcile its historic commitment to working people with the tough policy decisions required in today’s political climate – and craft a credible alternative to austerity without alienating its own members?

What about Rachel Reeves, Liz Kendall, and Angela Rayner? Will these recent developments change the balance of power within the party, or push one of them out entirely?

Join me live at 2pm BST on Friday, 4 July to discuss Labour’s internal battles, the challenges facing Starmer’s government, and what the future holds for the party.

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