Almost 100 Labour MPs Have Now Called on Starmer to Go — Here's the Full Picture of a Party in Freefall

The scale of the crisis facing Keir Starmer’s government is now without modern precedent for a Prime Minister less than two years into office.

According to a LabourList tracker, close to 100 Labour MPs have publicly called on Starmer to resign or announce a timetable for his departure following the party’s devastating performance in the 7 May local elections.

Six Labour MPs have resigned from government positions: Wes Streeting (Health Secretary), Jess Phillips (Safeguarding Minister), Zubir Ahmed (Health Minister), Alex Davies-Jones (government minister), Miatta Fahnbulleh (junior minister), and Rosie Wrighting (private secretary in the Department of Health).

All eleven Labour-affiliated trade unions have publicly signalled that they expect Starmer to step down before the next general election. Unite the Union previously reduced its Labour affiliation by 40% over the government’s handling of the Birmingham bin strike.

The government faces criticism from every direction. Figures on the right have attacked its approach to immigration and tax increases. Figures on the left have condemned its stance on the Gaza conflict, welfare reform, and its refusal to introduce a wealth tax. The appointment of Peter Mandelson has drawn cross-party criticism.

The local election results on 7 May were catastrophic for Labour. The party lost 1,022 councillors and control of 31 councils. In London, Labour lost Lambeth and Lewisham to the Greens. In Northern England, it haemorrhaged seats to Reform UK. The leader of Camden Council — in Starmer’s own constituency borough — lost his seat to a Green candidate.

On 9 May, former Foreign Office minister Catherine West publicly stated she would launch a leadership challenge against Starmer if no cabinet minister came forward first. Diane Abbott, writing on X, argued: “Simply changing the leader without changing the policies will not avert disaster in 2029.”

Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh — who resigned from cabinet in 2024 after revelations about a historic fraud guilty plea — attributed Labour’s defeat to the national politics of the party in Westminster.

Debbie Abrahams MP predicted it would be “a matter of months” before Starmer stepped down. Clive Betts MP said the Prime Minister should resign “in the not-too-distant future.”

Every opposition party leader has called for Starmer’s departure. Kemi Badenoch (Conservative) called his position “untenable.” Ed Davey (Liberal Democrats), Nigel Farage (Reform UK), Zack Polanski (Greens), Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru), and John Swinney (SNP and First Minister of Scotland) have all called for the Prime Minister’s resignation.

Starmer has dug in. In a speech on 12 May, he argued that leadership changes would mean “chaos.” In an interview with the Observer, he declared: “I want 10 years in No 10 and will fight my challengers.” In a Guardian op-ed, he wrote: “While we must respond to the message that voters have sent us, that doesn’t mean tacking right or left.”

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, backed Starmer on 14 May, urging colleagues not to “plunge the country into chaos.”

Three potential successors have now positioned themselves. Wes Streeting resigned from cabinet on 14 May but has not yet formally triggered a contest. Andy Burnham secured approval to stand in the Makerfield by-election on 15 May. Angela Rayner announced on 14 May that she had been cleared by tax authorities over a property tax dispute — removing the main obstacle to her entering any future leadership race.

Former Labour leader Ed Miliband has also been mentioned as a potential challenger.

The Labour Party won the 2024 general election with a landslide majority of 172 seats. Less than two years later, it is a party at war with itself.