U.K. Prime Minister Starmer Says He Won’t Step Down Amid Calls For Him To Resign

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer He insisted on Tuesday that he had no intention of resigning as calls grew within the Labor Party for him to step down and some younger members of his government resigned in protest.

Starmer has sought to shore up support within the Cabinet after a heated few days in the aftermath of the crisis. heavy losses The Labor Party’s claim in this direction in last week’s local elections will lead to its fall from power with an overwhelming majority if it is repeated in the national elections to be held by 2029.

Although no Cabinet member has resigned or publicly stated that the prime minister should step aside for a change of leader, the resignations of several junior ministers have fueled speculation that dozens of ministers will resign en masse and Starmer could suffer the fate of Boris Johnson in 2022. forced to leave.

More than 100 members of Parliament signed a letter saying “this is not the time for a leadership contest”, while around 90 people said “this is not the time for a leadership contest” Starmer must stand down or at least set a timetable for his departure.

But this is not enough to trigger a leadership race, as no candidate has challenged the prime minister. Under Labor Party rules, a fifth of MPs in the House of Commons, or 81 members, must publicly support a single candidate for a leadership election to take place.

Several deputy ministers were elected on Tuesday, some elected for the first time. Labor Party’s landslide election victory He resigned in July 2024 and called on Starmer to do the same.

Housing, communities and local government minister Miatta Fahnbulleh was the first to resign and called on Starmer to “do the right thing for the country”.

He was followed by Jess Phillips, the conservation minister and a leading member of the Labor Party. In his resignation letter, he described Starmer as “a fundamentally good man” but unable to make bold changes.

“I know you care deeply, but it’s actions, not words, that matter,” Phillips said. “I am not sure we have seized this rare opportunity with the gusto that is needed, and I cannot continue to wait for a crisis to arise for faster progress.”

Despite the party’s dominant win toppling the Conservatives after 14 years in power, Labor’s popularity has plummeted, with much of the blame placed on Starmer.

Reasons for this include a series of policy missteps, the prime minister’s perceived lack of vision, the struggling British economy and questions about his decisions. Starmer’s choice of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington despite ties to convicted sex offender jeffrey epstein it continued to bother him.

At the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Starmer said he took responsibility for the losses in last week’s election but would continue to fight.

Labor has been squeezed left and right, losing votes to both the anti-immigrant Reform England and the Green Party, as well as nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales. The result reflects the growing fragmentation of UK politics, long dominated by Labor and the Conservatives.

Starmer told his cabinet there was a process to oust a leader and it had not been triggered.

“The country expects us to continue governing,” Starmer said. “The past 48 hours have been destabilizing for the government and this has a real economic cost for our country and for families.”

This cost was clearly visible in financial markets on Tuesday; Interest rates on British government bonds have risen more than in similar countries. This suggests investors think holding British government debt is increasingly risky.

As cabinet members left 10 Downing Street, some voiced their support for the embattled prime minister.

Work and Pensions Minister Pat McFadden said no one at the meeting openly challenged Starmer, while Business Minister Peter Kyle said the prime minister had shown “really determined leadership”.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy later warned Labor MPs that the only beneficiaries of the party’s “navel-gaze” over Starmer’s stance were the populist right.

“I give him my full support and I say to my colleagues, look, let’s take a step back,” he said. “Take a breath.”

Starmer’s efforts to retain his position as prime minister come a day before the state opening of parliament, where the government will present its legislative program for next year.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting, long believed to be preparing for a leadership challenge against Starmer, was among senior ministers who dodged shouted questions from a group of reporters outside.

“Wes Streeting, do you want the job or not?” A man shouted from across the street. “Are you measuring the curtains?”

Two other names often touted as possible successors are Angela RaynerFormer deputy prime minister who was forced to resign last year over an unpaid tax bill. Raised in social housing and leaving school at 16 as a young mother, she has long distinguished herself as a different kind of politician with her compelling personal story.

Andy BurnhamThe popular mayor of Greater Manchester is widely perceived as one of the strongest candidates but is not currently eligible as he is not in Parliament. In order to enter the race, he will need to find a seat where he can be elected.

That could mean Burnham giving up her seat to stand for election in a close ally of England’s north-west. But if last week’s results are any guide, he could be blocked or even lose like he did earlier this year.

Danica Kirka and Sylvia Hui in London contributed to this report.