Melanie Ward statement in full after resigning as David Lammy aide amid call for Starmer to stand down
David Lammy’s deputy minister Melanie Ward has resigned as pressure mounts over Sir Keir Starmer’s future.
Ms Ward, the deputy prime minister’s PPS, became the fourth government deputy to resign on Monday after scores of Labor MPs called for Sir Keir to stand down.
Joe Morris, parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Health Minister Wes Streeting, and Tom Rutland, PPS to Environment Minister Emma Reynolds, called on the Prime Minister to set a timetable for his departure as he resigns.
Cabinet Office PPS Naushabah Khan also resigned, calling for new leadership at the head of the party.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s PPS member Sally Jameson has also joined growing calls for Sir Keir to stand down from disgruntled MPs, who numbered 63 as of Monday evening.
Ms Ward, MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, said in a statement about X that the election result in Scotland was “extremely disappointing” and that the deputy prime minister had resigned from his position as parliamentary private secretary.
Melanie Ward’s full statement
“Last week’s election result in Scotland was extremely disappointing, especially given the SNP’s appalling record,” Ms Ward said.
“Many of my constituents, or constituents, have told me that they cannot vote Labor as long as Keir Starmer remains Prime Minister. Their anger at early mistakes, such as the change to the winter fuel payment, is still felt. Mistakes on moral issues such as Gaza have also not been forgotten by the wider public.
“Keir Starmer has done significant work to change the Labor Party, and leading the country at a time like this will never be easy. But the message from last week’s election was clear: the Prime Minister has lost the trust of the public.
“Our country faces huge challenges and we need a Labor government that can deliver the scale of change this requires. It is clear that the Prime Minister no longer has the public trust or confidence to lead this change.”
“That is why I am resigning from the PPS today and calling on Keir Starmer to resign as Leader of the Labor Party and begin a fast-track process to elect a new Leader and Prime Minister.”
