British Prime Minister Keir Starmer fighting to keep job

Moderated by Tomas Kauer Moderated by Tomas Kauer
May 12, 2026 - 01:00
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer fighting to keep job

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is defying growing calls for him to quit despite more than 70 UK Labour MPs publicly calling for him to stand down.

In a speech overnight, he pledged to "prove his doubters wrong" and to move the UK closer to the European Union in a bid to shore up his leadership.

It came after the ruling Labour Party suffered major losses last week in local elections across England and legislative votes in Scotland and Wales.

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"I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will," Starmer said during a speech in London intended to kickstart his fightback. 

But it appeared to have little impact, with at least 71 Labour MPs, from the 403 in Parliament, calling for him to release a timetable for his resignation.

The BBC is reporting Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is among cabinet ministers urging Starmer to quit, but the cabinet remains split and the majority are backing him to stay.

None of the high-profile Labour politicians considered potential challengers to Starmer, including former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, has yet called for him to resign.

Over last weekend, Australian-born Labour backbench MP Catherine West threatened to trigger a leadership challenge against the prime minister, but later backed down. She has called for him to leave by September.

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Since Starmer's government swept to a landslide election victory in July 2024, it has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living.

It has also had repeated policy backflips on issues such as welfare reforms.

Starmer has been further hurt by his disastrous decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain's ambassador to Washington.

Voters took their frustration out on the government last Thursday when Labour suffered a net loss of more than 1100 local council seats across England, and lost control of several local authorities.

Anti-immigration party Reform UK gained more than 1300 seats across England and made significant gains in legislative elections in Wales and Scotland.

- With Associated Press

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