Starmer’s Promise to Prove Doubters Wrong Falls Short of Halting Calls for His Resignation

(SeaPRwire) –   The British prime minister’s pledge to silence his critics after Labour suffered major setbacks in local elections has done little to quell demands that he resign.

“I’m not going to shy away from the fact that I’ve got some doubters, including in my own [Labour] Party,” Starmer said in a recorded address Monday morning, accepting responsibility for last week’s electoral outcomes.

“I’ve spent too much time talking about what I am doing for working people and not enough time talking about why or who I stand for,” he added, vowing to deliver “change that we promised for a stronger and fairer Britain that we must build.” 

Yet several lawmakers remain insistent that another figure should lead Labour as it attempts to recover from its losses. In total, more than 40 MPs have urged Starmer to resign or establish a timetable for his departure.

“It was a passionate speech, but the content did not suggest anything close to the scale of change needed to rebuild communities like mine,” said Labour MP Lorraine Beavers.

“We need a democratic contest involving the most talented leaders from across our movement,” she continued, warning that appointing a cabinet member would “risk repeating the same mistakes already made.”

Although Starmer pointed on Monday to what he sees as signs of progress—including reduced waiting times at the National Health Service (NHS) and his decision not to intervene directly in the Iran conflict—concerns over his leadership persist.

Starmer was already under pressure to step down over his handling of Peter Mandelson’s appointment, who was dismissed months into his role as UK ambassador to the United States. Now, with Labour focused on recovery following significant defeats last week, numerous members of Starmer’s own party are calling for someone else to take charge.

Starmer threatened with leadership challenge 

After the prime minister’s address, Labour MP Catherine West announced she was “collecting names of Labour MPs to call on the Prime Minister to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September.” 

“The results last Thursday show that the PM has failed to inspire hope. What is best for the party and country now is for an orderly transition,” West remarked, describing Starmer’s Monday morning remarks as “too little too late.”

West’s statement, while firm, marked a retreat from her earlier threat to launch a leadership challenge.

Over the weekend, West—a former minister—had issued an ultimatum to Starmer’s cabinet: if they did not initiate a bid to challenge his leadership, she would do so herself.

West and Beavers are far from alone among those within Starmer’s party who were unimpressed by his speech.

MP Nadia Whittome said the prime minister “should do the responsible thing for the country and our party, and outline a timetable for his departure with a democratic leadership contest.”

Paulette Hamilton, another Labour MP, echoed these sentiments later Monday afternoon.

“The public has made clear they no longer wish to hear further talk of a ‘reset’ from Sir Keir Starmer. Confidence is lost. Voters have stopped listening,” she stated. “Now, an orderly transition must follow, and change must come from the top.”

In response to calls for Starmer to leave, some are turning their attention to other potential candidates.

Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, is gaining increasing support—though he would need permission to stand in a by-election so he can return to the House of Commons and become a viable contender.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has endorsed the idea of Burnham returning to Parliament.

“If Andy still wants to return, and an opportunity arises, he should be allowed to stand… I firmly believe in supporting the team that wins; you want your best players on the pitch,” Khan said.

Angela Rayner, former deputy leader of the Labour Party, has also expressed backing for Burnham, acknowledging that what the party is currently doing “isn’t working.”

“It’s time to admit that blocking Andy Burnham was a mistake. We must demonstrate that we understand the magnitude of change required—that means bringing our strongest voices back into Parliament,” she argued.

Burnham previously attempted to become an MP earlier this year but was barred from running in a by-election by the National Executive Committee (NEC), Labour’s governing body.

Labour MPs Connor Naismith and Clive Lewis have also voiced support for the Manchester mayor.

TIME has contacted Downing Street and Burnham’s office for comment.

The process for challenging a Labour leader, explained

If a leadership challenge were initiated, a candidate (who must be a sitting Member of Parliament) would need endorsement from at least 20% of current Labour MPs—currently equivalent to 81 lawmakers—according to the Institute for Government.

“Once the contenders are selected, the contest proceeds to the vote of Labour’s membership, affiliated societies, and trade union members,” Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, tells TIME.

While many view Burnham as the likely frontrunner, Bale notes that Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting—reportedly interested in succeeding Starmer—could also run.

MP Al Carns is another possible candidate, says Bale, highlighting the Minister for the Armed Forces as a “first-time MP with an impressive military record.”

According to Bale, “Burnham is probably the favourite,” with left-wing members of the party likely to favour Rayner, and right-wing members preferring Streeting.

Carns, Rayner, and Streeting are all sitting MPs, giving them established pathways to leadership. However, Bale emphasizes that Burnham could only participate in a contest if a current Labour MP stepped down, “triggering a by-election in which Burnham could stand and potentially win as Labour’s nominee.”

Beyond a formal leadership contest, the only alternative route to ousting a prime minister would be through mass resignations from top ministers.

“Cabinet ministers could resign en masse, making it difficult—if not impossible—to replace them,” Bale explains, referencing the scenario that forced then-Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson to step down in 2022 after more than 50 members of his government resigned amid ethics scandals.