Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has stated that Labour MPs would be mistaken to remove Keir Starmer as leader, even after voters delivered a "real kicking" to the party in local elections, leaving many feeling "bitterly let down."
Labour's Electoral Setback
Speaking on Sunday, Phillipson acknowledged that Labour had been "too gloomy" and made errors, such as attempting to withdraw the winter fuel allowance. The party lost control of approximately 40 councils and over 1,500 seats in Thursday's local elections.
However, she firmly opposed a leadership challenge from backbencher Catherine West, who announced her intention to begin collecting the 80 signatures required for a contest on Monday. Phillipson described such a move as "completely wrong."
Potential Leadership Contenders
West is not widely seen as a viable candidate, but if she triggers a contest, other figures like Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, or Ed Miliband could step forward. A contest in the coming weeks would exclude Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is not an MP. Reports suggest Labour's left wing may urge Miliband to consider a bid.
About 40 Labour MPs believe Starmer should resign or set a departure date. Former Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons backed West, arguing that Starmer has "lost the country" and must arrange an orderly transition. Writing in The Times, Simons called for senior figures across factions to decide the best way forward to avoid "leadership chaos."
Starmer's Response
Facing threats to his premiership, Starmer told The Observer he aims to serve for ten years. He has attempted to refresh his government by bringing back former Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a finance adviser and Harriet Harman as an adviser on women and girls. However, cabinet members with leadership ambitions are weighing whether to oust him.
Phillipson joined other Starmer loyalists in arguing against a leadership change. On Sky News, she said: "Friday morning, I felt absolutely sick to the bottom of my stomach about the scale of the defeat. We got a real kicking from the voters. There's no escaping that, and we have to reflect seriously."
She added: "I've knocked on doors across the country and in my own community. What I heard was not a desire for a leadership contest or for Labour to spend more time talking amongst ourselves. Voters expressed deep frustration that they voted for change in 2024 but don't feel we've delivered."
On the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Phillipson said: "I'm not going to say there aren't big issues to address. We can and we will. But I do not believe the message from these elections is that we should argue amongst ourselves. We need to tell a better story and deliver faster."
Union Pressure
Sharon Graham, leader of the Unite trade union—a significant Labour donor—called for more concrete policies to win back working-class voters who deserted the party. She warned that Labour had no right to exist and could become "extinct" unless it changes course.
