LONDON : The political crisis engulfing the British government intensified today as four ministers resigned from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet, and over 80 of his own Labour MPs called for him to step down immediately.
The dramatic escalation follows the government party’s worst local election results in recent history, triggering a wave of internal dissent that has thrown Starmer’s leadership into jeopardy.
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, more than 80 Labour members of parliament have demanded that Starmer either resign without delay or set a clear timetable for leaving office. However, the prime minister retains a bloc of support, with over 100 Labour MPs coming forward to defend him and resist any leadership challenge.
Under Labour Party rules, a motion to elect a new party leader requires the backing of 81 MPs—a threshold that critics of the prime minister are reportedly edging closer to reaching.
In a defiant response, Starmer rejected all calls for his resignation. Addressing the cabinet, he took personal responsibility for the electoral defeat but insisted that the formal process for a leadership change had not been triggered.
“There is a process for a change of leadership in the party, which has not yet been started,” Starmer said. “The state expects us to focus on running the government, and that is what I am doing.”
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy offered a robust defense of the embattled leader, stating, “Prime Minister Keir Starmer has my full support. Apparently, no one has the support needed to stand against the prime minister.”
British media reports describe intense pressure on Starmer from multiple fronts, with the coming days seen as critical to determining whether he can survive the worst political crisis of hi
s premiership.
