Four Ministers Resign from Starmer Government After Local Elections as Over 90 Labour MPs Urge Leadership Change

Four ministers quit Keir Starmer's government and more than 90 Labour MPs called for him to go as divisions deepened within Labour following last week’s local election results. The prime minister confronted cabinet members on Tuesday morning for the first time since those results. He told them that someone needs to challenge him if they want him removed.

Keir Starmer plans to proceed with the King’s Speech and the state opening of Parliament on Wednesday. He said he takes responsibility for the election results and for delivering the change promised. “The past 48 hours have been destabilising for the government, and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families,” Keir Starmer said.

“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered. The country expects us to get on with governing,” Keir Starmer added. Wes Streeting's supporters started a cascade of demands for Keir Starmer to quit on Monday evening.

Supporters of former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner are poised to move if Wes Streeting declares his candidacy. Andy Burnham was spotted arriving in London to meet Labour colleagues amid speculation he could return to the Commons to mount a challenge. Shabana Mahmood advised Keir Starmer to quit on Monday evening.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper also advised him to quit that evening but insisted on Tuesday she would not resign from the Cabinet and is “cracking on with the job”. Deputy prime minister David Lammy said “navel-gazing” within Labour would only benefit Nigel Farage and Reform UK. “It’s been 24 hours now, and nobody has come forward to put themselves forward in the processes that exist in the party.

No one seems to have the names to stand up against Keir Starmer, and for those who are suggesting that he should stand down, they should say which candidate would be better,” David Lammy said. ” Technology secretary Liz Kendall stood by Keir Starmer. Business secretary Peter Kyle, welfare secretary Pat McFadden and housing secretary Steve Reed also stood by him.

Pat McFadden said nobody had publicly challenged Keir Starmer to go and that the government should “carry on”. Peter Kyle said Keir Starmer was showing “really steadfast leadership”. Steve Reed said the prime minister had his “full support”.

Home Office minister Jess Phillips resigned. ” Safeguarding minister Alex Davies-Jones resigned shortly afterward. Health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed resigned and said there was “a lack of values-driven leadership at the centre” of Keir Starmer’s government.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander wrote on X: “There’s a lot of nonsense flying around at the moment. ” There were concerns over the rise in gilt prices, massively increasing the cost of government borrowing. ” The Independent reported that the US ambassador to London Warren Stephens warned that the “frequent turnover” of British prime ministers creates a “problem” for Washington, DC in building personal ties with the UK.