UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his Cabinet on Tuesday that he has no intention of resigning, even as calls for his departure grow louder within the Labour Party following heavy losses in local elections last week. The results, if mirrored in a national election, would see Labour overwhelmingly ejected from power.
Cabinet Support Tested
Starmer attempted to shore up support among his ministers after a tumultuous period. Several junior ministers resigned from their government posts on Tuesday, urging a change in leadership, though no candidate has yet directly challenged Starmer. The resignations have fueled speculation that Starmer could face a fate similar to Boris Johnson in 2022, when mass resignations forced him to quit.
Around 80 Labour lawmakers have publicly called for Starmer to step down or set a timetable for his departure, but this falls short of the 81 members needed to trigger a leadership contest under party rules.
First Resignations
Miatta Fahnbulleh, minister of housing, communities and local government, became the first government member to step down, urging Starmer to do the right thing and set a departure timetable. She was followed by Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, who in her resignation letter called Starmer a good man but criticized his inability to make bold changes. Phillips stated, "Deeds, not words are what matter. I am not sure we are grasping this rare opportunity with the gusto needed."
Despite winning a landslide election victory in July 2024, Labour's popularity has plummeted, with Starmer bearing much of the blame. Reasons include policy missteps, a perceived lack of vision, a struggling economy, and questions over his judgment, particularly his appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington despite Mandelson's ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer Defiant
At the start of the Cabinet meeting, Starmer accepted responsibility for the local election losses but vowed to fight on. He noted that the process to oust a leader has not been triggered and stressed that the country expects the government to focus on governing. "The past 48 hours have been destabilizing for government, which has a real economic cost for our country and families," he said.
The instability was reflected in financial markets on Tuesday, with interest rates on UK government bonds rising more than those of comparable nations, indicating higher investor risk perception.
Voices of Support
Some Cabinet members expressed support for Starmer. Works and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said no one publicly challenged the prime minister at the meeting, while Business Secretary Peter Kyle praised his steadfast leadership. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, long seen as a potential leadership challenger, avoided reporters' questions, with one onlooker shouting, "Wes Streeting, do you want the job, or not? Are you measuring the curtains?"
The next UK national election is not required until 2029, but British politics allows parties to change leaders midterm without a general election. Starmer had hoped to regain momentum with a Monday speech and an ambitious legislative agenda to be outlined by King Charles III at the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday.
