Keir Starmer faced mounting pressure on Tuesday as four junior ministers resigned and dozens of lawmakers called for him to step down following heavy losses in recent local and regional elections.
The election results capped a difficult period for the British prime minister, who has faced criticism over his handling of the economy and concerns about the rising cost of living in the United Kingdom.
Starmer has also come under fire over policy reversals and controversy surrounding the appointment and later dismissal of Peter Mandelson, who had faced scrutiny over past links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Despite the growing pressure, more than 100 members of parliament from the Labour Party signed a statement backing Starmer, exposing deep divisions within the ruling party.
Several senior ministers also rallied behind the prime minister after he reportedly told cabinet members during a key meeting that he intended to continue governing and challenged any potential rivals to openly contest his leadership.
“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader, and that has not been triggered,” Starmer told ministers.
“The country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a cabinet,” he added.
Reports indicated that more than 80 of Labour’s 403 MPs had either demanded Starmer’s immediate resignation or called on him to outline a timetable for his departure.
Miatta Fahnbulleh became the first junior minister to resign on Tuesday, urging Starmer to “do the right thing for the country and the party and set a timetable for an orderly transition”.
She was followed by safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who said in her resignation letter that she was no longer seeing the level of change expected by the country.
Junior ministers Alex Davies-Jones and Zubir Ahmed also resigned.
However, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy publicly backed Starmer, saying he had his “full support” and noting that no challenger had yet emerged with sufficient backing.
Defence Secretary John Healey also defended the prime minister, warning that “more instability is not in Britain’s interest”.
A spokesperson for interior minister Shabana Mahmood said she would not resign.
More than 100 Labour MPs signed a statement insisting that “this is no time for a leadership contest” and arguing that the party needed to focus on rebuilding public trust.
Under Labour Party rules, any challenger would require the backing of 81 MPs — equivalent to 20 per cent of Labour lawmakers in parliament — to trigger a leadership contest.
Political analysts warned that a leadership battle could deepen divisions within the party, with factions from the left and right competing to support rival candidates.
Starmer, whose government is expected to unveil more detailed legislative plans on Wednesday, has reportedly vowed to fight any leadership challenge.
Speculation has continued over possible leadership bids from Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.
Another potential contender, Andy Burnham, currently mayor of Greater Manchester, is unable to contest because he is not a sitting MP.
Pressure on Starmer intensified after Labour lost hundreds of council seats to the hard-right Reform UK and the left-wing Green Party of England and Wales in last week’s elections.
Labour also lost its long-standing political dominance in Wales and suffered major losses to the Scottish National Party in the devolved parliament in Edinburgh.
On Monday, Starmer pledged that Labour would become “better” and more decisive in response to voter frustration and growing demands for change.
