Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to prove his “doubters” wrong as he pushed back against mounting calls for his resignation following a disastrous set of local election results for Labour.
Speaking in central London on Monday, the Prime Minister acknowledged the “tough” outcome, which saw the party lose almost 1,500 English councillors, slip backwards in Scotland, and fall to third place in Wales. “I get it, I feel it, and I take responsibility,” he told the audience.
The results have triggered a wave of discontent within Labour, with a succession of MPs urging Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure. Former minister Catherine West has even hinted at launching a leadership bid, though she has framed it as an attempt to force the Cabinet to unite behind a replacement rather than a serious challenge for Number 10.
Addressing his critics directly, Sir Keir said: “I’m not going to shy away from the fact that I’ve got some doubters, including in my own party. I’m not going to shy away from the fact that I have to prove them wrong, and I will.”
His speech comes at a pivotal moment for his premiership, with last week’s election results reigniting speculation about potential challengers. Among those touted as a possible successor is Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, though Sir Keir declined to comment on whether he would support Burnham’s return to Parliament, stating it was a matter for Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC). The NEC, dominated by Starmer loyalists, previously blocked Burnham from contesting the Gorton and Denton by-election, which was subsequently won by the Greens.
In an effort to steady his leadership, Sir Keir used the speech to outline sweeping changes aimed at tackling “big challenges” facing Britain. These included legislation to nationalise British Steel, a ban on “far-right agitators” attending a planned march on Saturday, and a strategy to place the UK “at the heart of Europe”.
He framed the current political moment as a “battle for the soul” of the nation, warning that if Labour fails, the country could head down “a very dark path”. He added: “This is nothing less than a battle for the soul of our nation and I want to be crystal clear about how we will win it because we cannot win as a weaker version of Reform or the Greens. We can only win as a stronger version of Labour, a mainstream party of power, not protest.”
A handful of backbenchers voiced support for the Prime Minister after the speech. Macclesfield MP Tim Roca and Gedling’s Michael Payne said Sir Keir had demonstrated he understood “the scale of the challenge” facing the country. However, others continued to demand his resignation.
North Northumberland MP David Smith, who has served as the UK’s special envoy for freedom of religion or belief since 2024, said Labour owed “a debt of gratitude” to Sir Keir but could not “carry on with the approach we have taken” since the general election. He stated: “I therefore believe that now is the time for the Prime Minister to set a clear timetable for his departure. This departure should be ordered and dignified; for the PM himself, for the Government but most of all for the sake of the country.”
