Keir Starmer clings on as Labour ministers call on him to resign
Upwards of 70 Labour MPs, including cabinet allies of Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham, called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign or set a timeline for departure following Labour’s poor election performance. The dissent intensified as parliamentary private secretaries (PPS) and backbenchers urged Starmer to step down swiftly or plan an orderly transition, while Burnham’s strategy hinges on securing a byelection seat before challenging Starmer.
Keir Starmer faced mounting pressure on Monday as over 70 Labour MPs demanded his resignation or a clear timeline for leaving office, following the party’s weak electoral performance. The calls came despite Starmer’s speech emphasizing closer ties with the European Union, which failed to quell internal dissent. Allies of Wes Streeting, the health secretary and leadership hopeful, pushed for an immediate resignation, while supporters of Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, advocated for a slower transition to allow Burnham to re-enter Parliament via a byelection. A coordinated effort by backbenchers and ministerial aides escalated the pressure. Joe Morris, a PPS for Streeting, resigned his role to publicly call for Starmer’s departure, signaling deeper unrest. Sally Jameson, a PPS for home secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Tom Rutland, a PPS for environment secretary Emma Reynolds, also quit their positions to demand Starmer set a resignation timeline. Chris Curtis, a close ally of Streeting, further fueled speculation of an impending leadership challenge by urging Starmer to step down swiftly. Burnham’s strategy involves pressuring Starmer into resigning first, then triggering a byelection to secure his own parliamentary seat before contesting the leadership. Without Burnham in the race, Streeting would likely face opposition from left-wing candidates like Angela Rayner, former deputy leader. Streeting’s allies, however, could disrupt Burnham’s plans by accelerating the leadership contest. Starmer remains defiant, insisting he will lead Labour against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and fight any challengers. His position may become untenable if dissent spreads from PPS ranks to junior ministers and cabinet members, as seen with resignations from aides supporting justice secretary David Lammy and cabinet office minister Darren Jones. The internal turmoil reflects broader divisions within Labour, with factions maneuvering to shape the party’s future. Starmer’s survival hinges on whether he can regain control of his party or if the momentum for his resignation continues to grow.
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