Starmer clings on as prime minister after challenging rivals to put up or shut up

Challenger Keir Starmer has clung to power – for now – despite four ministers leaving his government and more than 90 Labor MPs calling for him to go as divisions within the Labor Party deepen.

Another 100 MPs signed a letter supporting him remaining in the party; He called on the party to work together “to deliver the change the country needs” and warned: “Now is not the time for a leadership race.”

With no direct rival, the embattled prime minister refused to go, calling on potential rivals to shut up or shut up. Confronting cabinet members on Tuesday morning for the first time since last week’s disastrous local election results, he made it clear that someone needed to challenge him if they want him removed.

Instead, Sir Keir plans to move forward with Wednesday’s King’s Speech and state opening of Parliament and continue his promise to “deliver on the promise of change”.

A painful day for the prime minister in Westminster began with all eyes on health minister Wes Streeting, whose supporters launched a series of demands for Sir Keir to resign on Monday evening.

It is understood that former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner’s supporters are also ready to take action if Streeting announces his candidacy.

Meanwhile, there was speculation that an MP could step aside to allow Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who was seen arriving in London to meet Labor colleagues, to return to the House of Commons and stand in a by-election to challenge Sir Keir.

But in a dramatic twist, Sir Keir insisted he would not be swayed and the only way to oust him was to challenge him directly.

He told his most senior ministers: “As I said yesterday, I take responsibility for these election results and I take responsibility for delivering the change we promised.

“The past 48 hours have been destabilizing for the government and this has a real economic cost for our country and for families.

“Labour has a process to challenge a leader and that hasn’t been triggered yet. The country expects us to continue governing. That’s what I’m doing and that’s what we need to do as a cabinet.”

Loyalists walked out of the weekly cabinet meeting to voice their support for the beleaguered prime minister, while others, including Mr Streeting, left without comment.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Affairs Minister Yvette Cooper were among those who advised Sir Keir to resign on Monday evening. But on Tuesday Ms Mahmood insisted she would not resign from cabinet and “remains in office”.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has warned that “navel-gazing” within the Labor Party will only benefit Nigel Farage and Reform UK. He reiterated his “full support” for Sir Keir and appealed to colleagues who urged him to “take a breath”.

“It’s been 24 hours and no one has come forward to put themselves forward through the processes that exist in the party. No one seems to have the names to stand up to Keir Starmer and those who are suggesting he stand down need to say which candidate would be better,” he said.

Defense secretary John Healey also threw his weight behind Sir Keir, saying: “Further instability is not in the UK’s interests. Our full focus must now be on dealing with pressing economic and security challenges.”

Technology minister Liz Kendall, business minister Peter Kyle, welfare minister Pat McFadden and housing minister Steve Reed also stood by the Labor leader as he looked for cameras in Downing Street. Mr McFadden said no one had publicly challenged Sir Keir to leave and the government should “move on”.

Mr Kyle said Sir Keir had shown “really determined leadership”, while Mr Reed said he had the prime minister’s “full support”.

However, Sir Keir faced a series of ministerial resignations; The most notable of these was Home Secretary Jess Phillips, who was responsible for tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Ms Phillips, an ally of Mr Streeting, said in a stinging resignation letter: “Fundamentally I think you are a good man who cares about the right things – but I have seen first-hand how that is not enough.

“The desire not to argue means we rarely argue, which stalls and delays opportunities for progress.”

Shortly after, another conservation minister, Alex Davies-Jones, followed by another close ally of Mr Streeting, the health minister, Dr. He was taken out of the gate by Zubir Ahmed. He said Sir Keir’s government had a “lack of values-focused leadership at the centre”.

Earlier, devolution minister Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned and warned: “We have not acted with the vision, speed and ambition that our mandate for change demands of us.”

Ms Fahnbulleh is seen as an ally of Energy Minister Ed Miliband, another senior minister notable for failing to support the prime minister.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was forced to reiterate her “full support” for Sir Keir amid suggestions he backed Mr Burnham’s plans to return to Parliament.

He wrote of X: “There’s a lot of nonsense floating around at the moment. The Prime Minister has my full support in getting the job going. The only trains I’ve ever spoken to Andy about are those that will run on the Northern Powerhouse Railway.”

Earlier, the prime minister’s chief secretary, Darren Jones, sparked speculation that Sir Keir might resign, saying: “I will not get in the way of any decision the Prime Minister may or may not make.”

But with Labor already at war with itself, there were concerns about a rise in gilt prices, greatly increasing the cost of government borrowing.

Former Treasury secretary Lord Jim O’Neil said: Independent: “With the financial situation this precarious, the idea of ​​repeating an almost exact Labor version of what the Conservatives have done seems crazy.”

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens warned that the “frequent change” of British prime ministers was creating a “problem” for Washington in establishing personal ties with the UK.