British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday vowed to prove his critics wrong after heavy losses for his ruling Labour Party in local and regional elections triggered growing calls for him to resign.
More than 50 Labour lawmakers, including three government aides who quit their posts, urged Starmer to step down, questioning his ability to restore public confidence less than two years after taking office.
Joe Morris, a parliamentary private secretary to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, said on X that Starmer no longer had “the trust or confidence of the public to lead this change”.
Another aide, Tom Rutland, said the prime minister had “lost authority” within the parliamentary party and would be unable to regain it.
Under Labour Party rules, any challenger would require the backing of 81 Labour lawmakers, equivalent to 20% of the parliamentary party, to trigger a leadership contest.
Starmer came to power in July 2024 after a landslide victory ended 14 years of Conservative rule marked by austerity, Brexit divisions and criticism over the government’s COVID-19 response. However, his government has struggled to deliver economic growth amid a prolonged cost-of-living crisis and has faced criticism over a series of policy setbacks.
His administration was also hit by controversy surrounding the appointment and later dismissal of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington following reports about Mandelson’s past links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Last week’s local and regional elections dealt a major blow to Labour, with gains by the right-wing Reform UK party and the Green Party at Labour’s expense.
Labour also lost control of the Welsh parliament to Plaid Cymru for the first time since devolution began in 1999 and failed to gain ground against the Scottish National Party in Scotland.
In a speech on Monday, Starmer acknowledged voters’ frustrations and promised a more ambitious approach to government.“I know I have my doubters, and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will,” he said.
Ballot Box Sorting During Local And Regional Elections
He pledged stronger action on economic growth, closer ties with Europe and energy policy, while promising to fully nationalise British Steel.
In one of his sharpest criticisms of Brexit since Britain left the European Union in 2020, Starmer said the move had left the country “poorer, weaker and less secure”.
He also attacked Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, describing him as a “chancer” and “grifter” whose Brexit campaign had misled Britain.“If we don’t get this right our country will go down a very dark path,” Starmer said.
Labour lawmaker Catherine West said after the speech that she was gathering support among MPs for Starmer to set a timetable for a leadership election in September rather than immediately launching a formal challenge.
Starmer warned Labour would “never be forgiven” if it descended into the kind of political instability that plagued recent Conservative governments, which saw five prime ministers since 2010.
Potential successors frequently mentioned include Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, although neither commands broad support across the party.
Rayner, who stopped short of calling for Starmer’s resignation, said on Monday that “what we are doing isn’t working, and it needs to change”.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has also been touted as a possible contender but currently lacks a seat in parliament, making a challenge difficult.
With the next national election not expected until 2029 and no clear successor emerging, Starmer may still retain enough support to survive the growing unrest within Labour.
He is expected to outline further legislative priorities in the King’s Speech on Wednesday.