Keir Starmer’s biggest fans – the MPs trying to convince PM to stay | Politics | News
Keir Starmer loyalists urge him not to resign (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer is facing the biggest leadership crisis of his premiership following Labor’s devastating losses in last week’s local elections, as well as elections in Scotland and Wales. Cabinet ministers now including Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood He called on the Prime Minister to reconsider his position Government aides are even leaving their posts.
Some 72 Labor MPs have so far called for Sir Keir to set a timetable for his resignation, but party loyalists are urging Sir Keir not to resign. At the time of writing, these include Housing Minister Steve Reed and Work and Pensions Minister Pat McFadden.
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Mr Reed told the BBC on Monday (May 11) that he stood “four squares” behind Sir Keir. He wrote about X: “Changing the leader only leads to chaos. We have seen what happened under the Conservatives. Let’s learn from their mistakes, let’s not repeat them.”
Mr McFadden insisted Sir Keir was in a “determined” mood and it would be a mistake to trigger a leadership race.
Sir Keir was speaking before he even tried another reset In order to support his prime ministership after the blow suffered by the Labor Party in the local elections. The Prime Minister has vowed to prove his skeptics wrong and continue his job.
His speech sparked an avalanche of Labor supporters publicly calling for Sir Keir to go, including some junior ministerial assistants who resigned.
Ms Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reportedly told Sir Keir they wanted him to set a timetable for his exit from No 10.
Steve Reed says PM has ‘four frames’ behind him (Image: Getty)
Sky News reported on Monday night that Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Parliamentary Treasury Secretary Jonathan Reynolds were with Sir Keir in Downing Street.
Darren Jones, one of Sir Keir’s closest aides, refused to comment on Tuesday (May 12) on whether Sir Keir would lead his party at the next election.
The Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary said Sir Keir “continues in his role as Prime Minister” despite reports that senior ministers had privately insisted he set a timetable for his departure.
80 MPs signed a letter from former minister Catherine West urging Sir Keir to take the step.
Asked whether Sir Keir would lead Labor at the next election, Mr Jones told Sky News: “I won’t get in the way of any decision the Prime Minister may or may not make.”
Defense Secretary John Healey said Labor “should not turn inward” after its local election disaster and could be on the path to a comeback if it acted more boldly.
Minister of Education Bridget Phillipson stated that she said the same thing last Thursday and said, “Keir has won before, he can win again.” He added: “We must deliver change, not chaos.”
Since the local elections, Sir Keir has also been supported by Business Secretary Peter Kyle, Transport Minister Heidi Alexander, Environment Minister Emma Reynolds and Northern Ireland Minister Hilary Benn.
In a sign that Sir Keir plans to investigate the matter, Downing Street announced the appointment of six new deputy ministers to replace those who resigned on Monday night.
It comes after Health Minister Wes Streeting’s parliamentary private secretary (PPS) Joe Morris and Environment Minister Emma Reynolds’ PPS Tom Rutland, Cabinet Office deputy Naushabah Khan and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy’s PPS Melanie Ward resigned on Monday evening.
Deputy Work and Pensions Minister Gordon McKee and Ms Mahmood’s PPS Sally Jameson also left their posts, expressing a loss of confidence in the Prime Minister.
