UK ministers reportedly prepare to demand Starmer's resignation after election losses
Keir Starmer (photo: Getty Images)
Today, May 12, six UK government ministers plan to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer after poor local election results, The Telegraph reports.
Calls for resignation inside the government
According to the publication, six British government ministers plan to raise the issue of the necessity of Starmer's resignation during an internal meeting.
These officials include:
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Shabana Mahmood
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John Healey
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Ed Miliband
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Lisa Nandy
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Yvette Cooper
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Wes Streeting
Government sources claim they allegedly agreed on a joint position regarding the need to determine a timetable for the prime minister's departure.
Keir Starmer's position
Keir Starmer himself stated that a mechanism for changing leaders in the Labour Party exists, but has not been launched at this time.
He stressed that he continues fulfilling the duties of the prime minister and working in the interests of the country despite political tension. According to him, the situation of recent days is destabilizing the government and could have economic consequences.
Resignations and internal pressure
Communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh has already resigned first. She also publicly called on Starmer to leave office.
After unsuccessful local elections, pressure on the prime minister inside the Labour Party intensified — more and more MPs are openly speaking about the need for his resignation.
Labour tensions escalate after election defeat
Starmer's Labour Party recently suffered its worst local election defeat for a ruling party in more than three decades, while the Reform Party achieved significant gains.
After this, internal disputes over leadership intensified inside the Labour Party.
Labour MP Catherine West stated that if no minister initiates a challenge against Keir Starmer by Monday, she herself could launch a procedure to change party leadership.
She also noted that an alternative option could be a government reshuffle and nomination of a new leader from among the strongest communicators in Cabinet.
Meanwhile, Cabinet minister Nick Thomas-Symonds warned colleagues against such actions. He stressed that over the past 10 years in the United Kingdom, changes of ruling party leaders repeatedly led to political instability and distracted the government from its work.
Keir Starmer himself stated that he does not plan to leave office, to which he was elected in July 2024.
"I am not going to plunge the country into chaos," he said.
