Where North East Labour MPs stand on Keir Starmer as pressure builds on Prime Minister to quit
Dozens of Labour MPs from the North East have publicly called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign following devastating losses in local elections, including control of councils in Newcastle, Sunderland, South Tyneside, and Gateshead. Some MPs, like Catherine McKinnell and Ian Lavery, demand Starmer’s immediate departure, while others, such as Mary Glindon, urge him to reshuffle his cabinet to regain public trust.
Labour suffered heavy losses in last week’s local elections, losing nearly 1,500 councillors and control of key councils in the North East, including Newcastle, Sunderland, South Tyneside, and Gateshead. The defeats have intensified pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with multiple Labour MPs from the region now openly calling for his resignation. Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North, stated it was “time for a new leader” and urged a swift transition to focus on delivering Labour’s promises. Similarly, Ian Lavery, MP for Blyth and Ashington, declared Starmer “needs to recognise and accept gracefully that his time as PM is over.” David Smith, MP for North Northumberland, echoed this, demanding Starmer set a clear timetable for his departure. Joe Morris, MP for Hexham, resigned as a ministerial aide to potential leadership contender Wes Streeting and called for Starmer to outline a plan to step aside. He argued that public confidence in Starmer had been lost, making a leadership change necessary for Labour to regain trust. Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central and West, acknowledged the defeats as a failure of the national party, though she has not yet commented on Starmer’s future. Mary Glindon, MP for Newcastle East and Wallsend, suggested Starmer should remain but reshuffle his cabinet to align with voter expectations. Emma Foody, MP for Cramlington and Killingworth, noted voters felt let down but has not directly addressed Starmer’s leadership. The growing dissent signals deep divisions within Labour as the party grapples with its electoral performance and future direction.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.