politics
UK Labour Loses Seats in Local Elections
The British prime minister addressed Labour colleagues on Monday pleading against a leadership change that he said would plunge the government into chaos. Reports emerged that about 70 colleagues are calling for his resignation while three senior cabinet ministers urged him to set out a plan to step down. The pressure follows heavy losses in last week's local elections to the Greens and Reform UK.
The Sydney Morning HeraldAudio version
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The British prime minister addressed his Labour colleagues on Monday with an earnest plea to stay in the job as a revolt against his leadership gained momentum. He made a mildly passionate case against a leadership change that he said would plunge the government into chaos and repeat the turmoil seen under previous Conservative prime ministers.
The main reason he remains in office is that his colleagues lack a compelling candidate to replace him, turning the situation into a humiliation for the prime minister and an embarrassment for the Labour Party. Hours after the morning address, the British press reported that about 70 of his colleagues were calling for his resignation.
The numbers opposing him have increased each day, yet there is a lack of commitment among potential rivals who appear hesitant to challenge directly.
Monday night in London, background briefings indicated a move against the prime minister within the cabinet. Three senior cabinet ministers had told him to set out a plan to step down, according to the accounts. This tumult follows catastrophic losses for Labour in council and regional elections held last Thursday.
The party lost votes to the Greens and even more ground to the populist Reform UK party. The prime minister has faced internal criticism for at least a full year, but colleagues waited for the election results before advancing further steps. If the cabinet ministers proceed, it could end his tenure, though similar claims have circulated before without result.
Monday the prime minister announced that the government will nationalise British Steel, a company close to financial collapse. The move represents a return to subsidies for national champions and a retreat from free-market policies to save essential industry.
