Sir Keir Starmer has made clear he has no plans on stepping down despite a disastrous set of local election results for the Labour party – here ITV News’ journalists explain the challenge the PM now faces
Sir Keir Starmer is fighting to keep his position, with more than 35 Labour MPs calling for the prime minister to stand down after a dire set of election results in Wales, Scotland and English councils.
The prime minister will seek to use a major speech on Monday and then the King’s Speech on Wednesday to attempt to reset his premiership in the aftermath of Thursday’s electoral mauling – which has fuelled speculation of a leadership challenge.
Labour MP Catherine West says she plans to put herself up as a “stalking horse” candidate on Monday morning, despite calls to hold off by supporters of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham – who has frequently been tipped as a leadership contender.
West said she’d launch her challenge unless Starmer is ushered out by his Cabinet, but the prime minister has already said he will not walk away from the job and that he will lead Labour at the next election, expected in 2029.
After launching her surprise leadership bid West, who was in Starmer’s government until September last year, described the election results as “apocalyptic”.
“I have said that if the Cabinet do not get their act together and get the seriousness of the moment that we find ourselves electorally, that on Monday morning, I will email every single one of my colleagues and ask for up to 80 names,” she told the Press Association.The backbencher would need the backing of 20% of Labour’s 403 MPs – a total of 81 – to challenge Starmer.
Meanwhile Starmer has given senior advisor roles to former prime minister Gordon Brown and former deputy party leader Harriet Harman as he seeks to shore up his position following a drubbing at the polls.
Brown has been made the Prime Minister’s special envoy on global finance, while Harman will serve as his adviser on women and girls. Both roles are unpaid and part-time.
It comes as Starmer vowed to listen to voters but refused to shift “left or right” despite pressure to change course and backbench calls for a new leader following Labour’s electoral mauling.
The Prime Minister said responding to “tough” results, which saw Labour lose hundreds of councillors in England and suffer humiliation in Wales, would mean “being assertive in our values” and “unifying rather than dividing”.
The ruling party haemorrhaged support in former strongholds while Reform UK made stunning gains and Plaid Cymru became the largest party in a Senedd election that left outgoing First Minister Eluned Morgan without a seat.
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