Adedokun Waliyu British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to remain in office despite mounting pressure from ministers and members of parliament calling for his resignation following Labour Party setbacks in recent local elections.
Speaking during a crucial cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Starmer insisted he remained focused on governing the country and challenged any potential rivals within the Labour Party to formally trigger a leadership contest.
“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered,” Starmer told ministers, adding that the government must continue focusing on national leadership rather than internal divisions.
Pressure on the British leader has intensified after Labour reportedly suffered major losses in local elections, losing hundreds of council seats to Reform UK and the Green Party, while also losing significant ground in Wales and Scotland.
The crisis deepened after junior minister Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned from government, becoming the first serving minister to openly call on Starmer to announce a timetable for his departure.
Fahnbulleh urged the prime minister to “do the right thing for the country and the party” by planning an orderly transition of leadership.
Reports also indicated that senior government figures, including Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, and senior cabinet member Yvette Cooper, had privately discussed Starmer’s future with him.
The growing dissatisfaction follows months of political difficulties for Starmer’s administration, including criticism surrounding the appointment and later dismissal of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington due to controversies linked to his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer has also faced criticism over economic challenges and the government’s inability to significantly improve living conditions amid rising costs for British citizens.
Despite the turmoil, several cabinet ministers publicly defended the prime minister after Tuesday’s meeting.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall reaffirmed her “full support” for Starmer, while Business Secretary Peter Kyle praised the prime minister’s “steadfast leadership.”
Under Labour Party rules, any challenger seeking to remove Starmer would require support from at least 81 Labour MPs to trigger a formal leadership contest.
Potential successors frequently mentioned in political circles include Health Secretary Wes Streeting, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.
However, analysts warn that a leadership battle could deepen divisions within Labour at a time when the party is already facing declining public support.
