Scottish Labour MPs have warned Sir Keir Starmer they could lead an effort to oust him before next May as they fear being ‘slaughtered’ at upcoming Holyrood elections.

The Prime Minister has been put on notice of a leadership challenge after being told he’s ‘very unpopular’ among voters in Scotland.

Both Sir Keir and Labour’s popularity has slumped in Scotland since last year’s general election, when the party won 37 seats north of the border.

It has left Labour MPs who represent constituencies in Scotland fearing the party could finish far behind the SNP at the Scottish Parliament elections on 7 May.

They have even spoken about the prospect of Labour finishing third in the Holyrood contests, behind both the SNP and Nigel Farage‘s Reform UK.

Some are now wondering about an imminent bid to topple Sir Keir in order to boost their chances of challenging the SNP in May.

Under Labour Party rules, a challenger to the Prime Minister would need the backing of 81 MPs – 20 per cent of the parliamentary party – to force a leadership election.

Allies of Sir Keir recently made clear he would fight any challenge against him, but the PM has since been further damaged by a furious row over last week’s Budget.

Scottish Labour MPs have warned Sir Keir Starmer they could lead an effort to oust him before next May as they fear being ‘slaughtered’ at upcoming Holyrood elections

Polling for Scottish Parliament elections, tracked by Ballot Box Scotland, shows how Labour’s support has slumped since last year’s general election

One Scottish Labour MP told The Times: ‘The situation is untenable.

‘The question for those of us with elections next May is ‘is there time for a change’, or do we wait to be slaughtered? My preference is before May.’

Another said: ‘The SNP is badly disliked and eminently beatable. And if we’re not able to mount a proper attack on them, that’s a really worrying sign.

‘My concern is not that Anas [Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader] can’t do that. It’s Keir that’s very unpopular on the doorstep.’

A third said: ‘We have everything to gain and little to lose by getting rid of Keir. With elections round the corner, we should be in contention for first place in the polls.

‘Instead we’re at risk of finishing in a far behind second, or staying stuck in third place.’

After last year’s general election success in Scotland, it had been thought Labour would go on to mount a serious challenge against the SNP at Holyrood.

But First Minister John Swinney is now expected to lead the SNP into a fifth term in office in the Scottish Parliament.

Meanwhile, some opinion polls have even shown Scottish Labour falling behind Reform when voters are asked who they will back next May.

A recent YouGov survey showed Mr Swinney is the most popular party leader in Scotland.

Nearly one-third (32 per cent) of Scots were found to have a favourable opinion of the SNP leader, although 51 per cent saw him in a negative light.

This compared to 72 per cent having an unfavourable view of Sir Keir, compared to just 19 per cent who viewed him positively.

The PM had a net favourability rating of -53 per cent, which was below Mr Farage (-47 per cent).

Sir Keir on Monday insisted there was ‘no misleading’ by Chancellor Rachel Reeves over the state of the public finances ahead of the Budget.

Ms Reeves has faced claims she misled voters by overstating the scale of the fiscal challenge prior to the fiscal package, which included £30billion worth of tax rises.