David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, has urged Labour MPs attempting to remove Keir Starmer to step back, as the prime minister defies calls to resign following a wave of ministerial resignations. Speaking on Tuesday, Lammy said: “Let’s get on with the business of running this country and government. That’s what I’ve been doing today, and that’s what the prime minister’s been doing. And I urge colleagues to step back and not benefit Nigel Farge and Reform.”
Four ministers resigned on Tuesday, including Jess Phillips, who called for Starmer to quit, saying she had grown tired of seeing “opportunities for progress stalled and delayed”. Zubir Ahmed, a health minister and ally of Wes Streeting, also resigned, along with Alex Davies-Jones and Miatta Fahnbulleh. Nearly 90 MPs have now called for the prime minister to go, according to the LabourList tally.
Despite the pressure, Starmer told his cabinet earlier on Tuesday that he would fight on, stating that the threshold for a leadership challenge had not been met. Downing Street insiders suggested that Streeting, widely seen as a leadership hopeful, did not yet have the required support from 81 MPs to formally launch a bid. Streeting is due to meet Starmer on Wednesday, with No 10 sources indicating he may be backing down from speculation he was on the brink of running.
One loyalist cabinet minister told the Guardian: “After all that, it’s looking like Wes may not have the numbers after all. I’m pleased and furious at the same time. The best thing for him now is to come out with some dignity and end the drama.” Starmer’s allies also believe he has seen off a threat from Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham for now.
However, Chris Curtis, the Labour Growth Group’s parliamentary chairman, said a change of leadership is “probably coming at this stage”. He told Sky News: “I think that clearly when this number of MPs have come out and said that they think that a change of leadership is required… it’s going to be very difficult to put that genie back into the bottle.”
