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Phillipson: challenge to Starmer would be wrong despite election ‘kicking’

leadership bid in the coming days. There are currently about 40 Labour MPs who have said they think Starmer

Wednesday briefing: Where Starmer stands after another precarious day in Parliament

Starmer’s leadership has been a slow burn, says Kiran Stacey, who thinks that the local elections on Thursday of next week will be a more perilous moment for the prime minister than this week

Tuesday briefing: Starmer’s ‘last chance’ speech and the possible challengers to his premiership

MPs. But if I were a Labour MP listening, I’d just think: ‘I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that speech before. Thanks, prime minister.’” --- **How did key Labour leadership contenders react?** ![Catherine West

More than 60 Labour MPs call on Starmer to set timetable to quit

Starmer could not deliver the change the country needed. “I therefore think it’s time for us to look for new leadership,” he said. “And I think what that means is the prime minister rightly

Lucy Powell says Labour has ‘no magic bullet’ as MPs brace for heavy losses in local elections

Labour MPs in the aftermath of the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal, but said the prime minister would not make a similar mistake again. Powell, who called for Keir Starmer to be more explicitly progressive during

Unhappy Labour MPs aren't ready to oust Starmer yet

leadership challenge. One long-standing Labour MP has his take: "Keir Starmer is basically dead, isn't he? And because people think it is inevitable that he won't lead us into the next election

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

leadership would “plunge the country into chaos”. A number of Labour MPs from across the party support Andy Burnham replacing Starmer. However, the Greater Manchester mayor requires a time-consuming and uncertain byelection

Starmer accuses Robbins of obstructing truth about Mandelson vetting

Labour MPs told the Guardian they did not believe that Starmer’s performance had “moved the dial” in favour of a leadership challenge that many are convinced will come before the next election

Analysis: Many Labour MPs are blaming the boss for elections body blow

Starmer's fault". But others do fret about the downsides of a leadership race while the party is in government, and also wonder if it would actually make any difference. "I am still

‘It’s Andy or bust’: could Burnham’s return to parliament save Starmer?

leadership contest in the middle of a potential economic crisis. One senior backbencher said that a move against Starmer in the context of the Iran war would be political suicide. “All those 2024 intake MPs

Starmer brings in Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman to ease pressure on him to resign

Labour MPs have called on him to set a date to hand over the leadership, including Clive Betts, the long-serving Sheffield South East MP, and Debbie Abrahams, for Oldham East and Saddleworth. Abrahams told

Labour MPs say ‘endless drama’ of leadership speculation must stop

Labour MPs should “be resilient” and stick with Starmer, adding: “Let’s not get distracted. Let’s not keep looking at ourselves.” Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, echoed this

What did Keir Starmer say in ‘last chance’ speech to save his premiership?

think: Oh, maybe this time things are different. But he did not. 2. --- ## 2. ‘I’m not going to walk away’ Asked directly after his speech if he would fight any challenge to his leadership

Labour’s disastrous night puts focus on Keir Starmer’s future as leader

Starmer’s leadership in question. “I think the very best thing the prime minister could do now is address the nation tomorrow and set out a timetable for his departure,” the local Labour MP, Jonathan

Another crunch moment for Starmer as he pleads with Labour MPs not to topple him

think he is a dud is a big deal. Wherever you look in the Labour Party right now there are knots of anxiety. Firstly, there is anxiety in Downing Street, of course. They are acutely

Tax cuts and cost of living help proposed by Labour-linked groups allied to Streeting and Burnham

Starmer under under [concerted pressure](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/11/more-than-60-labour-mps-call-on-starmer-to-set-timetable-to-quit) to stand down, the groups are two of a number of Labour-linked organisations that have proposed radical measures as they try to influence the thinking

Close Starmer ally declines to say if he will lead Labour into next election

MPs wanted to focus on using the time in government to deliver Labour’s policies. “We have to work together then as a party in this new political era of five-party politics

Starmer faces Commons showdown over Mandelson vetting scandal

leadership contest after what are expected to be brutal local and devolved elections for Labour next month. However, in recent weeks, Labour MPs appeared to have stepped back. “In the middle of 2026 with

Most Labour members think Starmer cannot revive party fortunes, poll finds

think Starmer cannot revive party fortunes, poll finds The majority of Labour members say they do not believe [Keir Starmer](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/keir-starmer) can turn around the party’s fortunes, while 45% say the prime

Labour MPs have put Starmer on notice after election battering. Can he turn it around?

MPs are desperately hoping for something to catch voters' imagination. One source involved in preparing for the speech told me there'd be plenty of Labour-friendly measures on offer. But would there be anything