Health Secretary Wes Streeting, widely seen as a potential leadership contender, is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday amid escalating calls for Starmer's resignation. This development follows the resignation of four ministers and mounting pressure from Labour MPs, marking another day of upheaval for the Labour leader just before King Charles's speech at the ceremonial state opening of Parliament on Wednesday.
Buckingham Palace has reportedly informed Sir Keir's officials that the monarch does not wish to be drawn into the Labour leadership crisis. Jess Phillips, Alex Davies-Jones, junior minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, and Health Minister Zubir Ahmed have all stepped down, urging Starmer to "act in the country's interest and set out a timetable for your departure." At least 80 Labour MPs have called for a leadership change. However, a defiant Sir Keir told his Cabinet that he "will not quit" and urged them to support him amid what is seen as the biggest crisis of his premiership.
In a contrasting move, more than 100 Labour MPs have signed a statement urging Sir Keir Starmer not to stand down, asserting that "this is no time for a leadership contest." The statement, signed by 103 MPs, calls on colleagues to start "working together."
The King is set to lead a centuries-old tradition in Parliament on Wednesday, delivering the King's Speech in the House of Lords. However, following the leadership crisis, Buckingham Palace privately inquired whether the King should proceed as planned. Reports indicate that the King's team emphasized to Starmer's officials that the monarch should be kept out of the political crisis and not used for political ends. "The Palace view is 'we do not want to be any part of this conversation — do not bring us into it,'" a source familiar with the matter told Politico.
The Government has appointed four new ministers and three new whips, including Nesil Caliskan as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Natalie Fleet as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office; Catherine Atkinson as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice; and Preet Kaur Gill as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care. Additionally, Gen Kitchen has been appointed Comptroller of HM Household (Government Whip), Deirdre Costigan as Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip), and Shaun Davies as Assistant Whip, House of Commons.
Labour MP Rupa Huq has denied signing a letter in support of the Prime Minister, expressing surprise to see her name on the list. The letter, which included over 100 MPs, stated it is "no time for a leadership contest." Ms Huq, the MP for Ealing Central and Acton, posted on X: "Surprised to see my name on this list when I haven't either signed any letter supporting the PM or called for the PM to go?? Not very courteous of colleagues to put names down without their approval."
Approval ratings for Sir Keir Starmer's government have plummeted to just 14 per cent, according to new YouGov polling, with a disapproval rating of 70 per cent, up six per cent from the previous week.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting is expected to hold talks with the Prime Minister on Tuesday morning, after more than 100 MPs joined calls for Starmer to quit. He is likely to ask Starmer how he plans to "get us out of this mess" and discuss the "turbulence" gripping the Labour Party, as reported by The Times.
Catherine West, the first Labour MP to call for Starmer's resignation following the local elections, has urged "real politicians" to stand up and demand his resignation. She told the BBC: "No more hand-holding. It's the moment." Although she did not specify who the "real politicians" were, it is believed she was referring to Cabinet members, including six who had been expected to demand Sir Keir's resignation.
