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UK Labour Leadership in Crisis After Local Election Losses; Starmer Vows to Stay

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Labour Party in Crisis: Starmer Faces Resignation Calls After Devastating Election Losses

The United Kingdom’s ruling Labour Party is facing its most significant internal crisis since taking office in July 2024, following poor results in local and regional elections on May 7, 2026. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls for his resignation from over 80 Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) and the resignations of several government ministers. Multiple potential candidates are positioning themselves for a potential leadership contest, though Starmer has repeatedly stated he will remain in office.

Election Results: A Widespread Rout

The May 7 elections resulted in substantial losses for the Labour Party across England, Scotland, and Wales.

England

Labour lost over 1,400 council seats in England. The hard-right Reform UK party made significant gains, winning hundreds of council seats—including in working-class areas in northern England such as Hartlepool—and taking control of three councils (Suffolk, Essex, and Newcastle-under-Lyme). The Green Party also gained seats at Labour’s expense, particularly in urban centers and university towns. The Conservative Party lost hundreds of councillors, while the centrist Liberal Democrats made gains.

Wales

For the first time since the Senedd’s establishment, Labour lost control of the Welsh parliament. First Minister Eluned Morgan lost her seat.

Scotland

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is projected to win the most seats in the Scottish Parliament, with Labour coming second.

Analysts have described the results as reflecting a fragmentation of British politics, with no single party achieving a large share of the national vote.

Leadership Challenge and Starmer’s Position

A formal leadership challenge under Labour Party rules requires the support of at least 81 MPs (20% of the party’s 403 MPs). As of May 12, over 80 Labour MPs have publicly called for Starmer to resign. Four junior ministerial aides resigned on May 12, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned from the Cabinet on May 14, becoming the first senior minister to do so.

Starmer has publicly accepted responsibility for the election results but has rejected all calls for his resignation.

  • On May 11, Starmer delivered a speech stating he had learned from the results and arguing that "incremental change won’t cut it."
  • On May 12, he told the Cabinet he would not resign, stating: "The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered. The country expects us to get on with governing."
  • He has argued that changing leaders would return Britain to the "chaos" seen under the previous Conservative government.

Backbench MP Catherine West initially threatened to trigger a leadership challenge if Starmer did not resign by May 11. She later abandoned the plan, citing insufficient support, but began collecting names of MPs who want Starmer to set a timetable for a leadership election in September.

Potential Leadership Contenders

Several figures have been named as potential candidates to replace Starmer.

Wes Streeting

The former Health Secretary resigned from the Cabinet on May 14. In his resignation letter to Starmer, he wrote, "where we need vision, we have a vacuum" and stated his belief that Starmer would not lead Labour into the next general election. He has not formally declared a leadership challenge. He is considered a figure from the right wing of the Labour Party and has been described as channeling the politics of former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Resigning aide Miatta Fahnbulleh stated that "the public does not believe that you can lead this change – and nor do I."

Angela Rayner

The former Deputy Prime Minister has criticized Starmer’s leadership, writing on X that "what we are doing isn't working, and it needs to change." She has stated she is ready to "play my part" in any leadership election and has resolved a dispute over unpaid property tax, which had led to her resignation from the Cabinet in September 2024.

Andy Burnham

The Mayor of Greater Manchester has announced his intention to contest the upcoming by-election in the Makerfield constituency. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons to allow Burnham to run. If elected, Burnham would be in a position to launch a leadership challenge. He has served in the Cabinet under Gordon Brown, run twice for the Labour leadership, and enjoys a higher net public approval rating than other potential contenders.

Government Resignations and Statements

As of May 14, several Labour MPs and government aides have resigned or called for a leadership transition.

  • Miatta Fahnbulleh (Minister of state at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government): Resigned on May 12, stating in her resignation letter, "The public does not believe that you can lead this change – and nor do I."
  • Jess Phillips (Safeguarding Minister): Resigned on May 12, criticizing Starmer’s inability to make "bold change."
  • Alex Davies-Jones and Zubir Ahmed: Resigned from their government posts on May 12.
  • Catherine West (Labour MP): Announced plans to collect signatures to demand a departure timetable for Starmer.
  • Josh Simons (former Starmer ally): Wrote in The Times that Starmer had "lost the country" and stepped down from his Makerfield seat to allow Burnham to run.

Background and Context

The Labour Party won a landslide general election victory in July 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Since then, Starmer’s popularity has declined amid a stagnant economy, high inflation, a cost-of-living crisis, and criticism over policy reversals.

A specific controversy that intensified opposition to Starmer involved the appointment and subsequent sacking of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington, which was linked to revelations about Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

On the same day as Streeting’s resignation, data showed UK GDP grew 0.6% in the first quarter of 2026. NHS waiting lists also fell for the fifth consecutive month, with a drop of 110,000 in March. Treasury chief Rachel Reeves stated the figures showed her policies were working.

There has been no formal request for a leadership vote submitted to the party. No sitting Labour prime minister has ever been removed via an internal party challenge. The next national general election is not required until 2029.