British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday rejected calls for his resignation, telling ministers he would continue governing after what he described as a destabilizing 48 hours for his administration following Labor’s poor local election performance and the resignation of a junior minister.
At a cabinet meeting, Starmer said there had been no formal move to trigger a leadership challenge, even as pressure mounted within his party. According to Downing Street, he told ministers that Labor’s internal process for challenging a leader “has not been triggered.
Starmer also warned about the economic impact of political instability, saying the “past 48 hours have been destabilizing for government, and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families.” His remarks came as British borrowing costs rose sharply amid concerns over renewed political uncertainty.
Jess Phillips, Britain’s safeguarding minister, resigned from government in protest against Starmer’s leadership. Phillips, a prominent Labor lawmaker and women’s rights advocate, was one of three junior ministers to step down, adding to the pressure on the prime minister after Labor suffered one of its worst local election defeats in recent years.
BREAKING: More than 100 Labour MPs have signed a statement backing Sir Keir Starmer, as the prime minister cancels a planned meeting with union leaders.
Sky’s @SamCoatesSky reports.https://t.co/cWb5uYt3mc
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In her resignation letter, first reported by Sky News, Phillips criticized Starmer’s political approach.
“The desire not to have an argument means we rarely make an argument, leaving opportunities for progress stalled and delayed,” she wrote.
She added: “I want a Labor government to work, but I’m not seeing the change I think I, and the country, expect, and so cannot continue to serve as a minister under the current leadership.”
More than 80 Labor lawmakers have reportedly called on Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure. Reuters reported that attention had turned to senior figures, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is widely seen as a potential future leadership contender, to determine whether they would openly challenge Starmer.
Following the cabinet meeting, several senior ministers publicly backed the prime minister. Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden told reporters that no cabinet member had challenged Starmer directly during the meeting.
Meanwhile, junior Foreign Office minister Jenny Chapman said most Labor lawmakers “don’t want the chaos.”
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“Open up your oil in the North Sea and get tough on immigration. Europe is being very, very hurt by immigration.”
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— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 12, 2026
Other senior figures viewed as critical of Starmer, including Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, declined to comment publicly after the meeting.
Starmer is facing growing unrest within the governing Labor Party after heavy losses in local and regional elections intensified criticism of his leadership.
The elections across England, Scotland and Wales dealt a significant blow to Labor less than two years after its landslide victory in the 2024 general election. Labor lost hundreds of council seats in England, lost ground to the Scottish National Party in Scotland, and lost control of the Welsh Parliament to Plaid Cymru for the first time since devolution began in 1999.
The results also underscored gains for Nigel Farage and his right-wing Reform UK party, which made advances in several traditional Labor strongholds. The Green Party also increased its support in some areas.
Starmer, 63, came to power in July 2024 after Labor ended 14 years of Conservative rule. However, his government has struggled to revive economic growth and ease cost-of-living pressures, while a series of political controversies has weakened public support.
Internal criticism intensified this week as several government aides resigned. Among them was Joe Morris, parliamentary private secretary to Streeting, who said on social media that Starmer no longer had the public’s confidence to deliver change.
🚨 JUST NOW: President Trump demands UK PM Keir Starmer CRACK DOWN on illegal migration and to open up oil drilling
“Open up your oil in the North Sea and get tough on immigration. Europe is being very, very hurt by immigration.”
He’s right!
Keir is a failure and should… pic.twitter.com/ihXEqimzZ2
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 12, 2026
Other departing aides, including Tom Rutland, Melanie Ward and Naushabah Khan, also questioned Starmer’s authority and called for renewed leadership within the party.
Senior cabinet members, including Mahmood and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, have privately urged Starmer to consider setting a timetable for his departure. Downing Street has not publicly confirmed the reports.
In a speech on Monday, Starmer acknowledged voter frustration and accepted responsibility for Labor’s losses. He pledged to pursue more ambitious policies on economic growth, energy and Britain’s relationship with Europe.
“I know I have my doubters, and I know I need to prove them wrong — and I will,” Starmer said.
The prime minister also defended his leadership during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, insisting he had “no intention of resigning.” According to British media reports, Starmer argued that replacing another prime minister mid-term could trigger further instability similar to the rapid turnover of Conservative leaders in recent years.
Additional resignations were reported on Tuesday, including that of junior minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who reportedly urged Starmer to announce a transition timetable. Other Labor figures, including Alex Davies-Jones, have also expressed concern over the government’s direction.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner stopped short of calling for Starmer to resign but said earlier this week that Labor’s current approach “needs to change.”
Potential successors discussed in British political circles include Rayner and Streeting, although no formal leadership contest has begun.
The political uncertainty comes at a sensitive time for Britain’s international relationships, including ties with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Analysts say continued instability within Labor could affect both Britain’s domestic agenda and its foreign policy positioning.
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
