Monday, May 18Monday, May 18Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party, is facing significant pressure to resign following severe losses in the recent local elections. Labour suffered its worst municipal election results for a governing party since 1995, losing over 1,400 council seats in England, as well as setbacks in Wales and Scotland. These results have intensified calls from within his own party for him to step down, with some MPs and former ministers openly questioning his leadership .
A former minister, Catherine West, has stated she will challenge Starmer for the leadership if no cabinet minister steps forward by Monday, further escalating the internal crisis. Additionally, MPs from Labour’s left wing are reportedly urging Ed Miliband to consider a leadership bid . A poll of Labour members found that 45% believe Starmer should resign, with 42% preferring Andy Burnham as his successor .
Despite the mounting pressure, Starmer has insisted he has no plans to quit, stating he will remain in office to address voter frustrations. In an attempt to stabilize his position, he has appointed former Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a special envoy on global finance and former Deputy Leader Harriet Harman to a new role, signaling a strategic reset . However, several frontbenchers have reportedly told *The Guardian* that Starmer’s tenure should not extend beyond the end of the year .
The election results also highlighted the growing influence of smaller parties, with Reform UK gaining over 1,300 seats and nationalist parties like Plaid Cymru and the SNP making significant advances. This shift has contributed to a more fractured political landscape, with five viable parties now competing under the UK’s first-past-the-post system .
> Background: **Labour suffers major losses in Englands 2026 local elections** — *1 days ago*
Ex-minister tells UK cabinet to boot Starmer or shell challenge him herself British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reeling from a crushing local election defeat, faced a new setback to his leadership on Saturday when a former minister said she would challenge him for the top job if no one else stepped forward. Starmers Labour Party recorded the worst losses of a governing party in municipal polls since 1995, prompting a growing number of his own lawmakers to call on him to quit. To try to shore up his position in the party earlier on Saturday, he named two influential...
south china morning post · 8 days ago
MPs from Labours left to urge Ed Miliband to consider leadership bid Keir Starmer set to face challenge as former minister says she will trigger race if no cabinet minister comes forwardUK politics live – latest updatesMPs from Labours left are expected to urge Ed Miliband to consider a leadership bid in the coming days, as Keir Starmer faced the prospect of a definite challenge from his MPs next week.Following grim results for Labour in elections on Thursday, former minister Catherine West said that if no cabinet ministers went public by Monday, she would launch a bid to end the impasse. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
Starmer brings Gordon Brown into government as he seeks reset after Labours election losses Keir Starmers position is being questioned by some Labour MPs.
thejournal · 9 days ago
UK PM Starmer says he plans to remain in office despite crushing local elections defeat The appointment comes amid crushing results for Prime Minister Starmers ruling Labour Party in local elections.
cnbc · 9 days ago
UK local elections: Starmer must address voters frustration over change Britains Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under growing pressure after Labour suffered major setbacks in local elections across England, while also struggling in Wales and Scotland as Reform UK continued to gain support. The results have raised fresh questions about Starmers leadership less than a year after leading Labour back into government. France 24s Gavin Lee speaks to James Lyons, who served under Starmer in Downing Street and previously worked as political editor at the Daily Mirror and The Sunday Times.
france24 · 9 days ago
British leader Keir Starmer under pressure after heavy election losses Labour party loses more than 1,400 English council seats and crashes out in Welsh and Scottish parliament votes• UK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer, the British prime minister, is facing increasing pressure to set a date for his departure after elections across much of the country resulted in massive losses for his ruling Labour party.With the bulk of results now counted after voting on Thursday, Labour had lost more than 1,400 representatives from English councils, the local government structures that deliver many neighbourhood services. Continue reading...
theguardian · 9 days ago
Starmer gives Brown and Harman new roles as pressure grows over election mauling – UK politics live Several frontbenchers told the Guardian they agreed the prime ministers time in office should not go beyond the end of the yearMapped: how Labour lost ground in different directionsPippa Crerar: Starmer under pressure to agree exit planGordon Brown has been appointed as a special envoy on global finance.Number 10 said:The PM has committed to boosting the countrys security and resilienceIn this role, Gordon Brown will advise on how global finance cooperation can help to achieve this. Continue reading...
theguardian · 9 days ago
Bloodbath, battering and colossal defeat - UK papers react to Labours local election losses British prime minister Keir Starmer is under pressure to go after Labour suffered losses in England, Scotland and Wales.
thejournal · 9 days ago
Labours historic battering: How the UK papers are covering the local election results British prime minister Keir Starmer is under pressure to go after Labour suffered losses in England, Scotland and Wales.
thejournal · 9 days ago
Most Labour members think Starmer cannot revive party fortunes, poll finds Exclusive: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is preferred choice of new leader for 42 of those surveyedFull results from England, Scotland and WalesThe majority of Labour members say they do not believe Keir Starmer can turn around the partys fortunes, while 45 say the prime minister should step down.The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, was the first preference for 42 of members, who were asked to rank their preferred successor. Continue reading...
theguardian · 9 days ago
❗️🇬🇧 - Prime Minister Keir Starmers Labour Party dealt a crushing defeat in the British Local Council Election. Reform UK, headed by the Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, won at least 1358 seats, up from just 82. Labour lost up to 1051 seats, over half of its seats. Another major development is the rise of the Welsh and Scottish nationalist parties. Whereas the SNP has been on a steady rise, the victory of Plaid Cymru in Wales, long a Labour stronghold, came as a shock. The UK political system, long underpinned by the two major parties Labour and Conservative, is becoming increasingly fractured, with 5 viable parties now competing in a first past the post system. The UK has had 4 Prime Ministers in the last 6 years. The UKs 10-year bond yield is flirting with the 5 level, one of the highest borrowing cost among the worlds developed economies, signaling the market expectation for continued political and fiscal instability.
telegram bot · 9 days ago
UK PM Starmer says he wont resign after local elections deliver big losses for Labour party
gdelt bot · 9 days ago