Monday, May 18Monday, May 18Keir Starmer has faced significant pressure to resign as UK Prime Minister and Labour Party leader following disastrous local election results in May 2026, which saw Labour suffer historic losses, particularly in its Welsh heartlands. Despite the setbacks, Starmer has repeatedly vowed to remain in office, insisting he will not quit and will continue leading the party into the next general election. His leadership has been openly challenged by Labour MPs, including former junior minister Catherine West, who threatened to trigger a leadership contest by Monday if no cabinet minister stepped forward to challenge him. West claimed to have the backing of 10 MPs, though this fell far short of the 81 signatures required to formally launch a challenge .
The election results, described as the worst for a governing party in municipal polls since 1995, have intensified calls for Starmer’s resignation, with some MPs arguing the party must respond decisively to the losses. However, key figures within Labour, including deputy leader Lucy Powell and cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson, have pushed back against a leadership contest, warning it would destabilize the party further. Phillipson dismissed West’s challenge as misguided, stating that a leadership race would not address the underlying issues .
In an effort to stabilize his position, Starmer appointed former Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a special envoy on global finance, a move seen as part of a broader reset following the election losses. The appointment was framed as part of Starmer’s commitment to boosting the country’s security and resilience, though it has not silenced calls for his departure . Meanwhile, MPs from Labour’s left wing have reportedly urged former leader Ed Miliband to consider a leadership bid, further highlighting divisions within the party . Despite the turmoil, Starmer has maintained that he has no plans to step down .
> Background: **UK Labour faces leadership crisis after historic election losses** — *15 hours ago*
Starmer vows to stay on after local elections deliver losses for Labour Keir Starmer vowed Friday to remain as Britains prime minister after disastrous local elections saw his centre-left Labour party humiliated across the UK, with disillusioned voters backing hard-right and nationalist parties. Thursdays ballots – Starmers biggest electoral test since Labour ousted the Conservatives in 2024 – left the British leader under intense pressure after the party suffered a historic mauling in its Welsh heartlands.
france24 · 8 days ago
Labour MP challenges ministers to trigger leadership contest as PM vows to fight on – UK politics live Catherine West says party must move quickly and that unless a cabinet minister comes forward to challenge the PM by Monday, she willAt the start of her programme Laura Kuenssberg addressed Catherine West and Bridget Phillipson who were sitting waiting for the main interviews.Kuenssberg told West she wanted a cabinet minister to challenge Keir Starmer. She said she was sitting next to one of them. What was her message to her?Well, theres nothing stopping Bridget from standing. Why are all the men better than the women? We do need some senior women to step forward and to challenge for what is going to be a really difficult two and a half years between now and the general election, and also to take us into that second term.I love you dearly, Catherine, but I just disagree on this one. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
Challenge Starmers leadership by Monday or Ill do it myself, Labour MP tells colleagues Catherine West claimed to have the backing of 10 MPs for her initiative, well short of the 81 needed to mount a challenge.
thejournal · 8 days ago
Starmer insists he wont quit as PM as Labour MP challenges ministers to trigger leadership contest – UK politics live Former junior minister Catherine West says that unless a cabinet minister comes forward to challenge the PM by Monday, she willAsked what would happen if Catherine West is able to get all the signatures she needs to launch a leadership challenge, Phillipson replied: I dont think that will happen.But she said that was not the point, because the party did need to respond to the election results.Catherine is a great colleague, and Ive known her a long time. And I have real respect for Catherine.On this one, I do part company with her. I think shes got this completely wrong.I dont think … a leadership contest and all of the problems that that would bring is the answer. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 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 Labour left to urge Ed Miliband to consider leadership bid | Keir Starmer
gdelt bot · 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
Labour MP threatens Starmer with leadership challenge after election rout Catherine West says she has 10 backers as deputy leader Lucy Powell warns challengers not to provoke a contest
financial times · 8 days ago
How do Labour leadership challenges work? Keir Starmers party has less experience in ousting leaders than the Conservatives
financial times · 8 days ago
Labour MP says she will trigger leadership contest by Monday if cabinet does not launch challenge – UK politics live Catherine West says she will try to get the necessary signatures herself to trigger a leadership contestMapped: how Labour lost ground in different directionsGordon 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 · 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