Labour backbenchers pressure Ed Miliband to lead as Starmer vows to stay
The Prime Minister has rejected calls to resign to avoid chaos, while the party grapples with the loss of over 1,400 councillors and control in Wales.
Following Labour's poor performance in recent local elections, backbench MPs are expected to urge Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to consider a leadership bid. The party suffered heavy losses to Reform UK and the Greens, shedding more than 1,400 councillors across England and losing power in Wales for the first time.
Former minister Catherine West has indicated she will trigger a leadership race on Monday if no cabinet minister comes forward by then. West, who was sacked from the Foreign Office last year, stated she currently has the support of 10 MPs, though the threshold to endorse a challenger requires 20 per cent of the parliamentary party. She cited a distinct lack of support for Angela Rayner as a primary reason for the impasse.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has firmly rejected speculation that he will step down, warning that a change of leadership would plunge the country into chaos. To stabilise the party, he has appointed Gordon Brown as his envoy on global finance and Harriet Harman as adviser on women and girls. These moves are characterised as future-looking attempts to rebuild the government following the electoral defeats.
While Starmer has vowed to remain in office, backbenchers including Clive Betts and Debbie Abrahams are calling for an orderly transition within months. They argue that the current trajectory is unsustainable and that the Prime Minister must set a timetable for his departure. Some MPs have also expressed support for Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, though his return to parliament would require a byelection.
West has stated that her preferred option is a cabinet reshuffle where Starmer is given a different role, perhaps an international one, rather than a full leadership contest. However, she noted her surprise that no other cabinet minister has stepped forward to propose a candidate, leaving the door open for a formal challenge if the situation does not resolve by Monday.
The political pressure mounts as the party assesses its position ahead of next year's local elections. Tony Vaughan and Terry Jermy have joined the chorus of MPs calling for a clear path forward, emphasising the need to prevent further internal division and ensure the government can function effectively despite the recent losses.