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At a glance: Starmer grapples with leadership crisis

Sir Keir Starmer faces a leadership crisis as Labour MPs call for him to resign after a disastrous election result, with potential challengers emerging

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Editorial Team
May 13, 2026
2 min read
What's happening today? Sir Keir is holding his weekly meeting with his cabinet, as he faces down calls from his senior ministers to stand down Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is among a number of cabinet ministers urging him to set out a departure timetable But the prime minister told the Cabinet the country expects Labour to "get on with governing" - throwing down the gauntlet to potential rivals to formally challenge him as Labour leader No MP has yet launched a formal bid to challenge Sir Keir - a move requiring the backing of 81 colleagues, or 20% of Labour MPs, according to party rules What's the mood in the party? More than 70 Labour MPs have publicly urged Sir Keir to resign immediately or draw up an exit timetable Miatta Fahnbulleh, a communities minister, earlier become the first member of the government to resign Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former deputy PM Angela Rayner are seen as the most likely challengers among Labour MPs Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also has support - but would need to become an MP to stand for leader, requiring a more drawn-out contest How did we get here? The prime minister gave a hastily-convened speech on Monday in a bid to shore up his position But the move seems to have backfired, with the number of Labour MPs calling on him to go rising steadily in the hours afterwards The revolt among MPs follows a disastrous set of elections for Labour last week, where it lost almost 1,500 councillors in local elections across England It was also kicked out of power in Wales and slumped to its worst ever result at a Scottish Parliament election The elections had been billed as a key test for Sir Keir's leadership amid dire poll ratings and the row over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, which has led some MPs to question his judgement.

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Editorial Team

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