Live Reporting
Edited by Charlotte Hadfield and Andrew Humphrey, with reporting by Chris Mason and Joe Pike
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‘It’s up to him’: President Trump asked about Starmer’s future
‘It’s up to him’
Published at 20:28 BSTAsked about Keir Starmer’s future and whether he should stay or go, President Donald Trump said: “That’s up to him”.
But he added that he believes Starmer should be using the North Sea, as he’s “getting killed on energy”.
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‘No more hand holding’ says Catherine West as she calls for real politicians to ‘stand up’
‘No more hand holding’ says Catherine West as she calls for real politicians to ‘stand up’
Published at 20:14 BSTCatherine West was the first Labour MP to call for Starmer to step aside at the weekend after the party’s dismal performance in the local elections.
Today, as many other backbenchers and a few junior ministers have also put their heads above the parapet to call for Starmer’s departure, the Hornsey & Friern Barnet MP told me: “The real politicians have to stand up now.”
She added that there was “no more hand holding. It’s the moment”.
She didn’t set out who those “real politicians” were, but some may speculate that she’s talking about members of cabinet, and potential contenders to the top job.
It’s no secret that many in London’s Labour ranks are furious about what happened last Thursday in the capital, where we saw a Green surge sweeping away Labour council seats in traditional heartlands.
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If Streeting doesn’t challenge PM, Starmer could face a longer-term threat
If Streeting doesn’t challenge PM, Starmer could face a longer-term threat
Published at 19:49 BSTThe Health Secretary Wes Streeting is meeting the Prime Minister tomorrow, as we’ve been reporting.
The approach taken in the Starmer camp to potential challengers is to stick strictly to Labour’s rules, and to resist a timetable for resignation.
This evening David Lammy asserted that no challenger had come forward.
And I am told the PM’s allies are convinced that the health secretary will not be able to produce a list of 81 supporters in his meeting tomorrow – which essentially means that this potential challenge is over before it began.
Some of his backers had written letters suggesting the PM had lost the support of the country and the ministers seen as sympathetic to the health secretary resigned, but that hasn’t convinced Keir Starmer to go.
But some MPs on the party’s right, who would have been assumed to be Streeting supporters, have signed a statement saying now is not the time for a leadership contest.
However, even if Starmer’s allies are right about his level of support, a different challenge isn’t off the agenda.
It’s possible the Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham could get the required names.
But as he is not an MP, he’d have to get back to parliament first.
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Would people in Blackpool stick or twist with Starmer?
Published at 19:24 BST
I’ve spent the day in Blackpool – a town that has changed its political allegiances many times – to speak to locals and holidaymakers.
Lindsey, who is enjoying a drink with her family at the top of Blackpool Tower, says she wants Starmer to stay because she feels like politics is too tumultuous.
When she voted for Labour, Lindsey says “it was very much with a hope that it would be a change from what we had”.
“My little one there is coming up to 13 and I really worry about what is going to be the future for him.”
Kasey is a mum with two jobs, and says she does not feel like the country is working for her.
She is quick to tell us she wants Starmer to go. “The world is going to pot, and we need someone better,” she says.
But she adds if there is a change of leadership, she will stick with Labour.
Charlotte and Jack are having a chippy with their little boy. Charlotte wants Starmer gone, explaining that although she knows that the PM has introduced good policies for families, she has lost faith in him and the government.
“I don’t think he is the right person for the job,” she says.
Meanwhile, Jack says he’d give Starmer a second chance if he presented a plan. “You see taxes rise – the personal allowance is frozen – you vote a Labour government in thinking it’s representing the working man.”
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Minister who resigned says Starmer ‘needs to steer us through the summer’ before stepping down
Published at 19:09 BST
Labour MP Miatta Fahnbulleh, who was the first minister to resign today, tells the BBC the prime minister has “lost the trust and confidence” of voters, and should set out a timetable for an “orderly transition” to a new leader.
She says it had been a “hard” decision to resign, but that it was the “right thing to do”.
The former housing minister tells me “we came into government promising change, people expect that change – they want us to step up and that does require us to have a much bigger vision than we’ve had”.
“It requires pace and ambition, and I think we’ve made too many mistakes, been too faltering, and we need to step up.”
She says “it’s within his gift to set a timetable that means we do this right,” insisting that the Labour Party “won’t cycle through leaders – we’ll do it once if we do it”.
Fahnbulleh adds that “no one wants us to rush,” and that the PM “needs to steer us through the summer” and “then set in train a proper process”.
Asked if her suggested time frame means Andy Burnham would then be able to stand, she said her priority was for any change to be done orderly while Labour continued to govern the country.
“If we have a contest, and it’s still a big if, of course Andy Burnham should be part of this, we need all of our talents setting out their stall,” she says.
She adds that Starmer has “always acted in the public interest” and she hopes he does that now.
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Streeting not expected to speak after meeting PM to not distract from King’s Speech
Published at 18:53 BST
Health Secretary Wes Streeting will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Number 10 tomorrow to discuss the current turbulence in government.
Streeting is widely considered to be keen to succeed Starmer, and a number of the health secretary’s supporters are among the ministers and parliamentary private secretaries who have resigned this week.
Starmer told his colleagues at cabinet this morning that he would be happy to meet them individually, and it’s understood that Streeting requested a meeting.
Allies of the health secretary say he won’t be saying anything after tomorrow’s encounter because he does not want to distract from the King Speech.
Yet the instability surrounding the prime minister’s position is sure to overshadow the state opening of parliament, whether Streeting talks to the media or not.
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Wes Streeting to meet Starmer tomorrow
Published at 18:24 BST
Health Secretary Wes Streeting will meet the prime minister tomorrow morning.
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110 Labour MPs sign statement opposing leadership contest
Published at 18:14 BST
110 Labour MPs have signed a statement opposing a leadership contest.
The statement reads: “Last week we had a devastatingly tough set of election results. It shows we have a hard job ahead to win back trust from the electorate.
“That job needs to start today – with all of us working together to deliver the change the country needs. We must focus on that.
“This is no time for a leadership contest.”
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No-one seems to have the names to stand up against Starmer, says Lammy
Published at 18:05 BST
We can now bring you more from Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy’s comments to the BBC outside Downing Street.
Lammy says the PM “has my full support,” adding that “no one seems to have the names to stand up against him.”
“No-one has come forward to put themselves forward in the processes that exist in the party,” Lammy says.
He adds that those suggesting Starmer stand down as prime minister should “say which candidate would do better”.
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Lammy says Starmer has his full support as he tells colleagues to ‘take a breath’
Published at 17:52 BST
David Lammy has said Keir Starmer has his “full support” and urges Labour colleagues to step back and “take a breath”.
Speaking outside No 10, the deputy prime minister says: “We must put country before party.”
Lammy adds that the only person who benefits from the Labour Party “navel-gazing” is Nigel Farage, and asks colleagues not to benefit the Reform leader or his party.
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Your Voice: Your views on the PM’s position
Published at 17:42 BST
You’ve been sending us your thoughts on the prime minister’s position – here’s a selection:
Starmer should resign. He comes across as just another career politician who says whatever is needed to stay in power. More and more people are starting to see that he seems more interested in controlling and reshaping the Labour Party than actually standing for clear principles or delivering real change for ordinary voters.
Dean in Manchester
Stability at this time must overcome personal ambition. Shame on those MPs who cannot or will not see the damage they are doing to the country and party. Get behind the PM and show some leadership.
Pamela in Exeter
Starmer has not been concentrating on the important issues recently. I feel it important that we have a stable and reliable leader. Hopefully, a decision to that effect will be made soon. I am concerned that a new leader could well be more to the left. I am hoping that the country can survive until the next General Election when a more stable government with better economic policies can rule.
Chris in Bedfordshire
I think everyone needs to get behind Keir Starmer. He’s only two years into the job. We all knew it would be tough for him. And he won’t win many friends trying to put things right. All the MPs need to stop carping at him and try and understand….to change now would only let Reform into other seats.
Gary in Harrogate
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Home secretary won’t resign, spokesperson says
Published at 17:34 BST
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will not resign from her position and is “cracking on with the job”, a spokesperson tells the BBC.
Yesterday she was among a number of cabinet ministers believed to have urged the prime minister to set out a timetable for his resignation.
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Starmer hangs on, for now
Published at 17:29 BST
The prime minister teeters this evening on the niceties of process.
His authority continues to drain; his government, his party openly combusting in front of us.
But today’s act of defiance – an expression of his long standing view that his ousting would herald chaos – hinges on Labour’s rulebook.
None of his potential successors has yet declared – let alone come forward with the requisite 81 names of Labour MPs.
And so while he looks increasingly done for in anything beyond the short term, at least for now he has a procedural barricade to cower behind. And – tactically – he’s saying to his potential challengers to put up or shut up.
For Wes Streeting in particular, then, whose nurturing of prime ministerial ambition isn’t recently acquired, a crunch point. To go for it, or not?
The potential prize, the premiership. The potential jeopardy, huge.
And meanwhile the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham found himself in London today, seeking support and a seat and sharpish.
It is seven years ago this month that Theresa May resigned as prime minister. Since then, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.
Only Sunak was ousted in an election. Starmer hangs on, for now.
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Rayner prepared for leadership run but open to supporting other candidates, allies tell BBC
Published at 17:12 BST
Allies of former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner tell the BBC she is prepared to run for leader if required.
But, they say, she is not advocating for an immediate contest, and is open to supporting other candidates.
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PM trying to ‘get on with the job’ – Labour MPs show support for Starmer
Published at 16:57 BST
While the number of MPs calling for Starmer to resign, or set a timetable for his resignation, has continued to rise today – a number on the prime minister’s benches have come out in support.
Preet Kaur Gill says “voters did not elect us to turn inward and obsess over ourselves”. She says Starmer is trying to “stop the destabilisation, the navel-gazing and get on with the job”.
Michael Payne, who yesterday became a ministerial aide after a series of resignations, says the prime minister is “[getting] on with governing”. He says a leadership election should not be triggered.
Also newly-promoted as a ministerial aide is Sean Woodcock, who says the prime minister “is right to get on with the job”.
Sam Rushworth says he backs Starmer to “turn things around”. He says the PM “won’t have spent the weekend worrying about his career, he’ll have been thinking of the country”.
Meanwhile Catherine Atkinson says Starmer is “right to focus on getting on with the job”, adding that the government needs “stability” rather than “Westminster turning in on itself”.
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Fourth ministerial resignation puts pressure on PM
Published at 16:48 BST
Keir Starmer’s position as prime minister has taken a further blow, as health minister Zubir Ahmed becomes the latest government minister to resign.
The first resignation of the day came from communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who said in her letter to the prime minister that the country was crying out for change, but “the public does not believe that you can lead this change – and nor do I”.
Several hours later, Jess Phillips announced she was leaving her role as safeguarding minister, telling Starmer that “deeds, not words matter”.
Alex Davies-Jones soon followed suit, as she called for the prime minister to “act in the country’s interest and set out a timetable for your departure”.
In his resignation letter, Zubir Ahmed said it’s clear the public has “irretrievably lost confidence in you as prime minister”.
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Public has ‘irretrievably lost confidence’ in Starmer, minister says as he quits
Published at 16:38 BST
In his
