UK’s Starmer under renewed pressure to quit as lawmaker revolt grows
Home secretary and deputy PM reportedly join calls for a leadership transition as several aides resign
Keir Starmer came under renewed pressure on Monday when four ministerial aides stepped down and more than 70 Labour lawmakers publicly called for the British prime minister’s resignation after his appeal for another chance seemingly fell on deaf ears.
At an address to the party faithful in London, Starmer had made an impassioned plea to both his party and voters to stick with him and avoid a leadership contest he said would only bring chaos, but his speech appeared to do little to stem the tide.
The Times reported that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and other cabinet ministers had told the prime minister to consider setting out a timeline for his departure as Labour lawmakers went public to express their dissatisfaction over one of the worst defeats for Labour in last week’s local elections.
Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper told Starmer that he should oversee an orderly transition of power, according to The Guardian.
ITV News reported that Starmer’s deputy, David Lammy, was also urging his boss to set out a departure timetable.
Four ministerial aides said they were resigning, believing that Starmer, 63, was not the man to lead Labour into the next national election, due in 2029, and hoping to trigger a leadership contest that could last weeks, if not months.