Keir Starmer’s grip on power appeared to be slipping away on Monday as senior cabinet ministers urged him to set out a timetable for his departure, and more than 70 Labour MPs publicly called for him to stand down. The prime minister warned the country would “never forgive” Labour for plunging into the chaos of a leadership election, insisting he intended to prove his doubters wrong.
The Guardian understands that four senior cabinet ministers—Shabana Mahmood, Yvette Cooper, John Healey, and David Lammy—were among those who spoke to Starmer on Monday. Some told the prime minister he should oversee an orderly transition of power after crushing election defeats risked ending his premiership. Others discussed taking a “responsible, dignified, orderly” approach to what might follow, while several others, including Richard Hermer and Steve Reed, urged him to fight on.
One cabinet minister said: “In the end Keir has listened to cabinet ministers – there are differences about where this will go and what is in the best interests of party and country. He’ll have to make a decision about what he’s going to do before cabinet tomorrow.” Chief whip Jonathan Reynolds spent the day in Downing Street conveying the mood among backbenchers to the No 10 operation.
Among those outside the cabinet publicly calling for Starmer to resign were close allies of Wes Streeting, who urged a “swift” timetable, in what appeared to be an orchestrated move. Supporters of Andy Burnham also published letters calling for the prime minister to go. Sources on Labour’s ruling national executive committee suggested they could take a different course next time if Starmer clearly lacked support.
Angela Rayner appeared to throw her weight behind Burnham, arguing that blocking him had been a mistake. Her stock as a potential successor has fallen, with allies suggesting she was no longer determined to go for the top job herself. Starmer survived an immediate threat after Catherine West changed course and said she was gathering names of MPs who supported an orderly transition instead.
