Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer leaving Europol in The Hague, Netherlands, following their meeting to discuss how Labour would tackle Channel crossings. Picture date: Thursday September 14, 2023. ... Keir Starmer visit to Netherlands ... 14-09-2023 ... The Hague ... Netherlands ... Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire. Unique Reference No. 73720057 ... See PA story POLITICS Labour. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced growing pressure on Tuesday as senior ministers and dozens of Labour lawmakers reportedly urged him to clarify whether he intended to remain in office.
Starmer was due to meet cabinet colleagues after a wave of resignations by ministerial aides and increasing calls within the governing Labour Party for him to step down.
The pressure followed Labour’s poor performance in last week’s local elections, widely described as one of the party’s worst electoral setbacks in recent years.
British media reported that senior cabinet ministers, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, told Starmer he should outline a timetable for his departure.
Nearly 80 Labour lawmakers from different factions of the party also reportedly backed calls for Starmer to announce an exit plan, a move that could trigger a leadership contest.
Senior minister Darren Jones said Starmer was consulting colleagues before deciding on his next steps.
“He’s listening to colleagues, and he’s talking to colleagues. I can’t get ahead of any decision he may or may not take,” Jones told Times Radio.
Starmer had earlier attempted to steady his leadership by promising to govern with greater urgency and tackle Britain’s economic and social challenges more aggressively.
But calls for his resignation intensified shortly afterwards, adding to political uncertainty and contributing to rising government borrowing costs.
Starmer warned on Monday that the country would not forgive Labour if the party descended into another leadership battle, less than two years after returning to power with a large parliamentary majority.
The political turmoil also came ahead of Wednesday’s State Opening of Parliament, where King Charles III is expected to outline the government’s legislative agenda.
Starmer became Britain’s fourth prime minister in five years following a period of prolonged political instability after the country voted to leave the European Union.
Erizia Rubyjeana
