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. More than 70 Labour MPs publicly called for him to stand down, representing 25% of the party's backbenchers.
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 ringing the death knell on his premiership. Others discussed taking a “responsible, dignified, orderly” approach to what might follow.
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 yet to go public.
Among those outside the cabinet publicly calling for Starmer to resign were close allies of Wes Streeting, who urged Starmer to set out a “swift” timetable. Supporters of Andy Burnham also published letters calling for the prime minister to go. Several sources said some cabinet ministers were angry with Burnham and Streeting, whom they believed precipitated the leadership crisis by sanctioning allies to call for Starmer’s departure.
Angela Rayner appeared to throw her weight behind Burnham, arguing that blocking him had been a mistake and he should be allowed to return to parliament. Her stock as a potential successor has fallen, with allies suggesting she could be part of a team rather than going for the top job herself.
In a speech earlier on Monday, Starmer said he would not resign and would prove his doubters wrong. “I take responsibility for not walking away, not plunging our country into chaos, as the Tories did time and again,” he said. “A Labour government would never be forgiven for inflicting that on our country again.”
