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Labour’s better than expected thrashing may allow Starmer to cling on in No 10

MPs and would be likely to enter any leadership contest, are both reluctant to be the first mover against Starmer – in keeping with the old political adage that the person who wields the knife does

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

Labour politics is rarely that straightforward. Former cabinet minister Louise Haigh told the BBC now was not the time for a messy, internal leadership contest and praised Sir Keir's stance on the Iran

Wes Streeting faces narrow road to Labour members’ favour

leadership contest, he is on the right of the party, formerly close to Peter Mandelson and of the Blairite Progress wing. In recent months he has been seen as seeking to position himself further

‘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

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

Starmer faces perilous 24 hours as Streeting preparing for leadership bid

contest would benefit existing MPs. The latest to call for Starmer to set out a timetable to go was Josh Simons, a former Cabinet Office minister, who said Starmer must arrange a transition

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

Labour’s ruling body from running in February’s Gorton and Denton byelection](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/25/andy-burnham-blocked-from-byelection-race-by-labour-ruling-committee), has identified several seats where MPs are prepared to step aside for his leadership bid. In a sign that

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

At a glance: Starmer grapples with leadership crisis

contest - The prime minister gave a hastily-convened speech on Monday in a bid to shore up his position - But the move seems to have backfired, with the number of Labour MPs calling

Keir Starmer under pressure to agree exit plan after election mauling

Labour could slump to third place in Scotland behind the SNP and Reform. While the prime minister appeared to have avoided an immediate coup, there was a furious response to the results among senior MPs

Keir Starmer to face crucial cabinet meeting as ministers and MPs urge him to resign – UK politics live

Labour MPs who were coming out and calling for Starmer’s resignation and, after his speech in the morning, the numbers started to escalate. Here is [the LabourList one](https://labourlist.org/2026/05/labourlist-labour-mp-starmer-resignation-tracker/);

Chris Mason: PM confronts his most difficult day as party revolts

Labour MPs who look on in horror at the implosion they are witnessing and will be called upon to publicly defend, when they would much rather it didn't happen

Starmer to say ‘incremental change won’t cut it’ in major make-or-break speech to avert leadership challenge – UK politics live

leadership contest is already under way; **Angela Rayner** issued what was in effect [her manifesto](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/may/10/may-elections-keir-starmer-catherine-west-labour-leadership-nigel-farage-reform-conservatives-kemi-badenoch-richard-tice-bridget-phillipson-uk-politics-latest-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-6a00aed68f087a8ca712f2f4#block-6a00aed68f087a8ca712f2f4) late yesterday afternoon (although she also hinted she would be happy for it to be delivered

Cabinet ministers warn mutinous MPs over ousting Keir Starmer

Labour faces losing more than 1,500 council seats across England, a struggle for second place in Scotland and the prospect of losing Wales after a century of domination, leaving thousands of angry local politicians

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

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

contesting in the town to [Reform UK](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/brexit-party). The result has once more put Starmer’s leadership in question. “I think the very best thing the prime minister could do now is address

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

contest. Photograph: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images More than a third of members polled said they were considering resigning their membership, according to the polling by the thinktank Compass. The thinktank is affiliated with Mainstream, a Labour

Winners, losers and a PM on the brink - what to expect in next week's elections

contests were run was before the mess of Boris Johnson's departure, and the calamity of Liz Truss. So, Tory HQ is braced for another battering, just as they suffered last year when

Analysis: Has Starmer done enough to save his premiership?

leadership contest right now. A sigh of relief, in the immediate moment at least, for Downing Street - and for the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, as she is now advocating that the prime minister

Labour MP in seat eyed by Burnham allies says she will not stand aside

leadership contest. Allies of Burnham, who hopes to seek to replace Starmer as prime minister, had said Rimmer’s seat was one possibly in contention for him to fight a byelection. But Rimmer