Labour MP Calls for Leadership Contest Against Starmer by Monday

A Labour MP has told the cabinet it must replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer by Monday or she will attempt to trigger a formal leadership contest herself. The backbencher made the threat in an interview broadcast on Saturday, saying her preference was for cabinet ministers to select a new leader from among themselves without a full party election.

She said the current leader could be given an international affairs role while a better communicator took over to counter the challenge from Reform UK. The intervention comes after Labour suffered significant defeats in English council elections, losing more than 1,460 seats.

Reform UK secured gains in former Labour strongholds in northern England and the Midlands while the Greens took control of several London councils. In Wales the party finished third behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK. Around 30 Labour MPs have publicly called for a change of leadership or a timetable for the prime minister to depart.

The MP said she had the support of 10 colleagues so far and was confident of securing the 81 nominations, or 20 percent of Labour MPs, required to force a contest. She added that she did not have a preferred candidate but was surprised none had emerged publicly.

Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds cautioned against the move, warning that repeated leadership changes create instability and distract from governing. Other ministers and MPs criticised the intervention, with one describing it as irresponsible and another saying it played into the hands of Reform UK.

In response the prime minister appointed two veteran Labour politicians as advisers on Saturday. One will focus on global finance at a time when Britain's public sector net debt stands at 94 percent of GDP. The other will advise on tackling violence against women.

Starmer has insisted he will not walk away and plunge the country into chaos. He is scheduled to deliver a major speech next week and unveil a new legislative programme. In an interview he pledged to pursue closer ties with the EU and address the economic consequences of the Iran war.

The MP who issued the ultimatum previously served as a junior foreign office minister and represents a north London constituency. She lost her ministerial post in a reshuffle last September. Labour holds 403 seats in the House of Commons, making it difficult to assemble the necessary support if the cabinet closes ranks.

Labour rules a leadership election would be decided by a vote of all party members, including the 87,000-plus who participated in last year's deputy leadership contest. No cabinet minister has yet declared an intention to challenge Starmer. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the prime minister retained his support while acknowledging the government must take responsibility for its mistakes.

Former deputy leader Angela Rayner remains under investigation over her tax affairs. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who is not an MP, would need to secure a parliamentary seat before he could stand. The backbencher said she currently had insufficient names to trigger a contest but expected more support from both critics and moderate centrist MPs once the deadline passed.

Downing Street sources indicated they did not believe she would reach the 81-signature threshold. " — Labour MP, May 2026 (BBC News) >"We've seen over the past 10 years now, what happens when a party in government just starts chopping and changing leaders.