UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces escalating pressure within the governing Labour Party to resign or set a timetable for stepping down. Multiple outlets report that following last week’s local elections, which included Labour losing control of the Welsh Parliament and failing to defend many English council seats, more than 70 Labour MPs are publicly calling for his removal. Figures cited by different sources range from 70 to about 90 MPs, with one report saying the number of Labour MPs demanding he quit reaches 81, and another describing nearly 90 MPs calling on him to step aside.

Several ministers and cabinet-adjacent figures are described as having resigned or joined the pressure campaign in some form, while others in the government are said to back Starmer. In response to the revolt, Starmer delivers a “fightback” address and argues that resigning would cause chaos for the country. Despite that, some reports say he does not win the support of the lawmakers calling for change, and the number of MPs backing his continued leadership is also mentioned. One former Labour adviser quoted by France 24 says he should step aside or hand No 10 to Nigel Farage, reflecting the range of public commentary around the leadership crisis.