Six Cabinet ministers will reportedly tell Sir Keir Starmer to resign in a crunch meeting this morning. According to The Telegraph, Shabana Mahmood, John Healey, Ed Miliband, Lisa Nandy, Yvette Cooper, and Wes Streeting will urge the Prime Minister to step down. This comes as the first minister has resigned from Sir Keir's government. Minister for Devolution, Faith, and Communities Miatta Fahnbulleh told the PM to 'do the right thing' and set a timetable for his departure.
Political Turmoil Intensifies
The Prime Minister faces a mutiny from his closest allies after a devastating set of local election results. Sir Keir, whose attempted reset speech yesterday tried to buy him time, is said to be weighing up his options. His top ally, Darren Jones, refused to rule out the PM resigning as more than 70 MPs turned on him. Jones said on the morning round that Sir Keir was 'listening', adding: 'I’m not going to get ahead of any decision the PM may or may not take.'
Resignations and Economic Fallout
Communities Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh quit the government and urged the Prime Minister to set a timetable for his departure. In a letter posted on X, she told him: 'The public does not believe that you can lead this change – and nor do I.' Meanwhile, borrowing costs spiked to a 28-year high as instability spooked markets. The 10-year gilt yield rose above 5 per cent on Tuesday morning, and the 30-year yield leapt to 5.76 per cent. Conservative MP Neil O’Brien tweeted: 'Taxpayers paying the price for Labour chaos already.'
Cabinet Meeting and MP Calls
Cabinet members smiled as they arrived in Downing Street, but the mood inside is expected to be grim. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy waved at reporters but ignored questions about his boss's future. It has been reported that Lammy discussed with Starmer last night how they should take a 'responsible, dignified, orderly' approach to the calls for him to resign. A total of 81 MPs have now called for Sir Keir to resign or set out a timetable for leaving—a symbolic number equal to the supporters needed to formally challenge the PM. Tonia Antoniazzi, Gower’s MP, said Starmer is a 'very, very genuine, integral man… but we’ve got to a point where the toxicity in Parliament, in our politics – he’s just not cutting through.'
Starmer's Response
In his first remarks to the Cabinet, Sir Keir told his team that he took responsibility for the election results and for delivering the change he has promised. He continued: 'The past 48 hours have been destabilising for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families. The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered. The country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a Cabinet.'
