Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure to step aside after senior cabinet ministers joined more than 70 Labour MPs calling for him to set out a timetable for leaving office, deepening a leadership crisis within the party.
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The appeals came hours after Starmer insisted he would remain in the role and fight any leadership challenge, warning that the country would “never forgive” Labour if it descended into the turmoil of a leadership contest.
Reports suggest several senior figures in the government privately urged the prime minister to oversee an orderly transition following a series of damaging election defeats that have cast doubt on the future of his premiership.
Cabinet pressure builds
Two senior ministers — Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood — are believed to have told Starmer he should prepare for a managed handover of power.
Two other cabinet members, John Healey and David Lammy, also discussed how a “responsible, dignified and orderly” process might unfold if he were to step aside.
However, not all ministers have urged him to go. Some cabinet allies, including Richard Hermer and Steve Reed, are said to have encouraged the prime minister to remain in office and resist the growing pressure.
One minister said Starmer had listened to the differing views in cabinet and would need to decide his next steps before the next cabinet meeting.
MPs call for leadership change
More than 70 Labour MPs have publicly called for Starmer to resign, representing roughly a quarter of the party’s backbenchers. Many say they no longer believe he can lead Labour successfully into the next general election.
Among those pressing for a transition are MPs linked to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, although allies insist he has no intention of forcing an immediate challenge.
Other Labour figures have also been drawn into speculation over possible successors. Supporters of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham have published letters urging Starmer to step down, while Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has argued Burnham should have been allowed to return to parliament earlier this year.
Rayner herself had once been considered a possible contender but her prospects have been complicated by an ongoing dispute over her tax affairs. Some allies now suggest she may instead support a broader leadership team.
Starmer vows to stay
In a speech earlier on Monday, Starmer rejected calls to resign and said he would continue leading the government.
“I take responsibility for not walking away, not plunging our country into chaos,” he said, arguing that a leadership contest could destabilise the government and damage Labour’s credibility.
He acknowledged frustration among voters and within his own party but said he intended to prove his critics wrong.
Divisions within Labour
While pressure on Starmer has intensified, some Labour MPs warned that replacing a prime minister less than two years after coming to power could harm the party.
MP Andrew Lewin cautioned that forcing a leadership change could hand a political advantage to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and undermine Labour’s reputation for stable governance.
Nevertheless, discontent has continued to spread. Several junior frontbenchers resigned from their roles, including Joe Morris, Tom Rutland, Naushabah Khan and Melanie Ward, each calling for the prime minister to step down.
Many MPs said voters had linked disappointing local election results to dissatisfaction with the national leadership.
Despite the escalating calls for change, Starmer remains defiant, insisting he will continue in office and challenge those who doubt his leadership.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 12 May 2026
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