Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure from Labour MPs and trade unions after the party suffered a disastrous local election defeat, losing hundreds of councillors and experiencing a major setback in Wales. Several prominent figures, including former minister Catherine West and leaders of Unison and Unite, have called for Sir Keir's resignation, with some suggesting he has a limited timeframe to improve the party's trajectory.
Starmer Responds to Criticism
Despite the criticism, Sir Keir Starmer has stated he is 'hurt' but 'not going to walk away', while deputy leader Lucy Powell defended him, emphasising the party needs to 'listen' and 'change' but not engage in 'hostile takeovers'.
New Appointments
As part of his plan to rebuild after the election results, Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Harriet Harman as an adviser on women and girls, while ex-prime minister Gordon Brown will serve as a special envoy on global finance.
Scottish Elections
In the Scottish elections, the Scottish National Party (SNP) remained the largest party in Holyrood, though without a majority, while Reform UK made significant gains and the Conservatives lost considerable ground.
