Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to prove his “doubters” wrong as he fought back against calls for him to resign following Labour’s heavy losses in local elections across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The Prime Minister described the results as “tough” and told an audience in central London: “I get it, I feel it, and I take responsibility. But it’s not just about taking responsibility for the results. It’s about taking responsibility to explain how, as a political and electoral force, we will be better and do better in the months and years ahead.”
He added: “I know I have my doubters, and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.”
Sir Keir also warned his party that Britain was “not just facing dangerous times, but dangerous opponents, very dangerous opponents”. He said: “This hurts, not just because Labour has done badly, but because if we don’t get this right, our country will go down a very dark path.”
Reset with Europe and domestic pledges
In his speech on Monday, billed as setting out sweeping changes to tackle the “big challenges” confronting the UK, Sir Keir pledged to go further in his “reset” of relations with the European Union. He said his government would be defined by putting Britain at the “heart of Europe”.
He promised to deliver “an ambitious youth experience scheme” with the EU so that “our young people can work and study and live in Europe, a symbol of a stronger relationship and a fairer future with our closest allies”.
Domestically, Sir Keir pledged to bring forward new legislation to nationalise British Steel, stating that a commercial sale of its Scunthorpe steelworks had not been possible since the government took over running the plant last year. He also vowed to block “far-right agitators” from entering the UK for a march planned on Saturday, describing the demonstration as “designed to confront and intimidate”.
Leadership speculation and challenges
The Prime Minister’s speech followed a weekend of speculation about potential leadership challenges. Former minister Catherine West suggested she would launch an attempt to topple Sir Keir if no Cabinet member stepped forward instead. Sir Keir said he would fight any leadership challenge and would not “walk away”.
He refused to be drawn on whether he would support an attempt by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to return to Parliament, saying it was a matter for Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC). The NEC, dominated by supporters of the Prime Minister, blocked Mr Burnham’s bid to stand for the party earlier this year in the Gorton and Denton by-election, which saw Labour fall into third place behind the Greens and Reform UK.
