What happens next if Keir Starmer resigns as more than 100 MPs call for Prime Minister to quit

Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to resign after more than 100 Labour MPs signed a letter demanding his departure. The calls follow Labour’s disastrous local election results, where the party lost over 1,400 councillors, signaling a sharp decline in public support. Four ministers, including Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, have already resigned, though no formal leadership challenge has been launched under Labour’s rules. Starmer dismissed the calls in a statement, emphasizing that the party’s process for challenging a leader has not been triggered. He reiterated his commitment to governing, citing priorities such as reducing the cost of living, cutting hospital waiting lists, and maintaining national security. His remarks came ahead of the King’s Speech in the House of Lords, where he framed his government’s agenda as a choice between progress and past instability. If Starmer were to resign, a leadership election would likely follow, with Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham currently the bookmakers’ favorite to succeed him. Other potential candidates include Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former Deputy Leader Angela Rayner. The process could take weeks, meaning Starmer might remain in office temporarily as a caretaker PM until a replacement is chosen. A general election is unlikely in the near term, given Labour’s poor local election performance. The next scheduled vote is set for August 2029, unless a snap election is called—a scenario considered improbable. The political turmoil reflects deep divisions within the party, with internal dissatisfaction over policy decisions, including the hiring of Peter Mandelson and the winter fuel U-turn, further eroding Starmer’s authority.