Starmer to meet Streeting as Labour government faces leadership crisis
More than 80 Labour MPs have demanded Starmer step down following local election losses, while four junior ministers have resigned in protest ahead of the King’s Speech.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet Health Secretary Wes Streeting at Downing Street as he faces intensifying pressure to resign following significant losses in local elections. The meeting occurs ahead of the King’s Speech at the opening of parliament, where Starmer’s government will outline its legislative agenda. Starmer has pledged to continue governing despite internal turmoil, including resignations from four junior ministers and calls for his removal from more than 80 Labour MPs.
More than 80 Labour MPs, representing almost a quarter of the party’s elected members, have called for Starmer to step down following heavy losses in last week’s local elections. The prime minister has so far defied these calls, blaming the results on a failure to deliver reforms since coming to power in a landslide 2024 election victory. Starmer argued that Britain stands at a pivotal moment, urging the country to press ahead with a plan to build a stronger, fairer nation rather than returning to the chaos of the past.
Four junior ministers have resigned in protest: Miatta Fahnbulleh, Jess Phillips, Alex Davies-Jones, and Zubir Ahmed. Fahnbulleh, the first of the four to resign, stated in a letter that the public does not believe Starmer can lead the necessary change. Phillips cited stalled opportunities for progress, while Davies-Jones described the election results as catastrophic. Ahmed, noted as a Streeting ally, joined the resignations, highlighting the deepening rift within the party.
Despite the internal turmoil, Starmer will proceed with the King’s Speech at the opening of parliament, outlining a legislative agenda focused on economic reform, national security, and reducing hospital waiting lists. The government plans to introduce a package of more than 35 bills and draft bills focusing on economic improvement, national security, and state reform. British media reports suggest no public statement will follow the Starmer-Streeting meeting to keep focus on the King’s Speech.
Historical context indicates that eleven Labour-affiliated unions, including Unite, Unison, and GMB, have issued a joint statement predicting Starmer will not lead the party into the next general election. The intervention marks a significant escalation in internal party tensions, with the leaked draft asserting that Labour cannot continue on its current path. If Starmer were to be removed, his successor would not be bound to follow the same legislative plan.
