The crisis deepened on Tuesday when three ministers in Starmer’s government resigned within hours of each other, a moment many Labor insiders said posed the most serious threat yet to Starmer’s leadership.
The resignations exposed deep rifts within the ruling party and fueled speculation about whether Britain would soon see another change at No. 10 Downing Street.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the communities minister and Peckham MP, became the first minister in Starmer’s government to resign publicly over concerns about the government’s direction.
She urged Starmer to “do the right thing for the country and the party and set a timetable for an orderly transition.”
Soon after, Home Affairs Minister Jess Phillips, one of Labour’s most prominent voices, also resigned, saying she was frustrated by the government’s inability to take decisive action.
In her resignation letter, Phillips said she was tired of seeing “opportunities for progress stalled and delayed”, adding that Starmer’s reluctance to embrace bold reforms was becoming politically damaging.
Victims and Minister for Addressing Violence against Women and Girls Alex Davies-Jones later followed suit.
She pointed to Labour’s “catastrophic” election defeat and warned the party had lost the confidence of voters.
But the local election debacle is not the only reason for the growing “Labour misery” surrounding Starmer.
Calls for his resignation have been brewing for weeks after controversy erupted over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
Critics accused Starmer of overlooking Mandelson’s well-known relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, fueling accusations of poor judgment at the top of the government.
At the same time, Labor has also been struggling to contain the rise of Nigel Farage’s “British reformists”, which have steadily chipped away at the party’s traditional working-class support base in northern England and the Midlands.
As Starmer faces the biggest political crisis of his premiership so far, here are answers to the most important FAQs:
Why is Keir Starmer facing calls to resign?
The immediate trigger was Labour’s disastrous performance in UK local and devolved elections. Labor MPs fear that although Labor returns to power in a landslide in 2024, the result exposes a deep disconnect between the Labor leadership and voters.Many MPs fear that if this trend continues, Labor could face a humiliating defeat at the next general election.Internal anger intensified after a number of ministers and aides resigned, with more than 80 MPs publicly or privately urging Starmer to resign or announce an exit plan.Mandelson’s controversy added to the pressure. Critics within Labour believe Starmer’s handling of the row undermined the party’s commitment to professionalism and clean governance.Economic concerns further eroded confidence. Sluggish economic growth, weak consumer spending and growing political instability have raised concerns within the Labor Party about Starmer’s ability to regain public trust.
What would happen if Starmer resigned?
If Starmer resigns voluntarily, Labor will launch a formal leadership contest to elect a new leader, who will automatically become the UK’s next prime minister as Labor still holds a majority in parliament.The leadership battle is likely to lead to negotiations between Labor factions, unions and senior ministers over the future direction of the government.Britain has seen rapid leadership changes in recent years, with six prime ministers in nearly a decade.
Could Starmer be forced out?
Yes, but Labor has a structured process.A challenger needs the support of at least 20% of Labor MPs to formally trigger a leadership contest. Since Labor currently holds 403 seats in parliament, this means that at least 81 MPs must support the challenger.So far, many MPs have called for Starmer to resign, but no rival has officially gained enough support to mount a direct challenge.If there are multiple candidates running, Labor members and affiliated organizations including trade unions will vote to decide the winner.
How did Starmer react to the rebellion?
Starmer refused to step down and insisted he would “keep fighting”.Following his resignation and mounting pressure, Starmer addressed the cabinet and admitted responsibility for Labour’s election defeat but argued the formal threshold for a leadership challenge had not yet been met.“The country wants us to stay in power,” he told ministers.Starmer’s allies say he believes voters still want Labor to deliver on its promises rather than get stuck in another leadership battle.
If Starmer leaves, who could replace him?
Internal discussions have begun on several senior Labor figures as possible successors.Health Minister Wes Streeting is seen by many as a strong contender due to his popularity and appeal among centrist Labor MPs.Deputy Prime Minister David Lamy and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper are also seen as influential figures with strong cabinet profiles.Some within the party believe Labor may move further to the right politically to counter growing support for Nigel Farage and Reform Britain.However, no candidate has yet publicly launched a campaign against Starmer.
Why is the rise of UK reform worrying Labour?
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has become one of Labour’s biggest political headaches.The party won support from working-class voters in the north and midlands of England: areas that have traditionally been Labour’s core electoral base.Several Labor MPs fear Starmer’s cautious and technocratic leadership style has failed to energize voters, allowing Britain’s reformists to capitalize on frustrations with immigration, the economy and public services.
Can Starmer survive this crisis?
Yes – now.Despite the resignations and growing rebellion, Starmer retains the support of cabinet departments and a large number of Labor MPs. Importantly, formal leadership challenges have not yet passed the required threshold.But politically, the pressure is mounting rapidly. The coming weeks could be crucial for Starmer’s leadership as resignations mount, opinion polls worsen and Labor’s divisions become increasingly clear.