Many Labour MPs are blaming the boss for elections body blow

Labour’s dismal election results have triggered growing dissent among MPs, with at least a dozen openly blaming Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the party’s losses. Sources told the BBC that voters’ frustration centered on Starmer, with one MP stating, ‘If he leads us into a future election, we are dead.’ Another MP from a heavily Reform-leaning area said voters did not hate Labour but ‘did hate Keir,’ while a senior Labour figure in Wales claimed the defeat was entirely Starmer’s fault. Despite the criticism, most cabinet ministers, including Business Secretary Peter Kyle, have rallied behind Starmer, insisting the party must focus on reversing results rather than targeting the leader. Kyle argued that ‘reversing these results requires a collective effort, not just blaming the boss.’ However, some MPs, particularly from the Tribune group, have pushed for Starmer to announce a timetable for his departure, framing it as necessary for Labour’s future. Louise Haigh, a former cabinet minister, warned against a messy leadership contest but acknowledged public dissatisfaction, stating that ‘unless the government delivers urgent and significant change, it’s clear the PM cannot lead us into the next election.’ Her colleague, Sarah Owen, went further, declaring Starmer ‘cannot lead us into another election’ without tangible change. Their calls reflect broader concerns that Starmer’s leadership is unsustainable, with some MPs linking the push for his exit to ambitions for Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, to return to Westminster and challenge for the leadership. Burnham’s potential candidacy has complicated the debate, as Labour’s National Executive Committee has previously blocked his bid to become an MP. Some MPs now demand the barrier be removed, with one warning that if Burnham is blocked again, the ‘mood in the Parliamentary Labour Party would be mutinous.’ Others caution that a leadership contest could destabilize the government, particularly amid public demands for tax cuts and increased spending. While Starmer has vowed to stay in office, the internal pressure is mounting. A small but vocal group of MPs is coordinating efforts to force a timeline for his departure, though the party’s response remains unclear. The situation reflects deep divisions within Labour, where frustration over election losses has collided with strategic maneuvering over the party’s future leadership.