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Who could challenge Keir Starmer for the UK PM’s job? Meet the candidates

Street Community Centre on May 11, 2026 in London, England. Prime Minister and Labour Leader Keir Starmer is making a major speech in a bid to secure his premiership, following the devastating losses the Labour

Challenge Starmer by Monday or I will, Labour MP tells cabinet

Wes Streeting, though this is denied by those close to the health secretary. On Friday, Streeting said Sir Keir had his support but "we have to take responsibility in government for our mistakes". Asked

Wednesday briefing: How much longer can Keir Starmer cling to power?

Wes Streeting’s priority is speed. The health secretary is a skilled communicator, but he is not popular with the Labour party members who will actuallypick the next prime minister if a contest is held

At a glance: Starmer grapples with leadership crisis

Wes Streeting and former deputy PM Angela Rayner are seen as the most likely challengers among Labour MPs - Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also has support - but would need to become an MP to stand

Wes Streeting plans to resign and mount leadership challenge, allies say

Wes Streeting](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wes-streeting) have said he is preparing to stand down as health secretary amid deep frustration with Keir Starmer’s leadership, and could mount a formal challenge for the leadership as early

Starmer to promise bolder action as leadership threats mount

Wes Streeting. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is also seen as a potential leadership rival, although a speedy contest would hamper his chances because he would first need to become an MP to stand

MPs from Labour’s left to urge Ed Miliband to consider leadership bid

bid to end the impasse. It comes after a series of Labour backbenchers called on Saturday for Starmer to s[et a timetable for his departure](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/08/keir-starmer-under-pressure-to-agree-exit-plan-after-election-mauling) from Downing Street. The prime minister

UK’s Keir Starmer faces likely challenge following Labour’s election defeat

MP Catherine West urged cabinet ministers to “move quickly” to replace him, saying she planned to email her colleagues for the necessary support on Monday morning if no one else put themselves forward. More than

Andy Burnham has plan to return to Westminster ‘within weeks’, allies say

bid. In a sign that his campaign is more progressed than previously thought, Burnham’s team is understood to have lined up an “impressive” candidate to replace him as Greater Manchester mayor. Allies said

'We need to move quickly,' says Labour MP seeking to challenge PM

bidding to be the next Labour leader and prime minister herself, but by triggering a leadership contest she would be aiming to flush out heavyweight contenders she thinks could do a better job than

Can Starmer survive as PM? Seven scenarios for what might happen next

bids to go over the top after Thursday's battering at the polls. She would need to get the backing of 20% of the Parliamentary party - 81 MPs - to kick off a leadership contest

Cabinet split as Mahmood calls on Starmer to set out timetable to go

Wes Streeting, a potential leadership contender. Morris said the prime minister "no longer has the trust or confidence of the public". Melanie Ward, PPS to Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Naushabah Khan, PPS to Cabinet

Starmer given a lifeline after Streeting challenge fails to materialise

bid after Starmer issued a ‘put up or shut up’ ultimatum to his cabinet. Streeting was due to hold talks with Starmer on Wednesday, at which he was expected to talk candidly about his concerns