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

Keir Starmer insists he is not leaving – a serious leader for a serious time – and will have been boosted by last night’s lifeline, when Wes Streeting’s challenge failed to materialise. However, his authority

Partygate v Mandelson: Keir Starmer faces attack from his own playbook

Keir Starmer. Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian Starmer’s problems stem from his decision in late 2024 [to appoint Peter Mandelson](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/20/appointment-peter-mandelson-new-uk-ambassador-to-us-divides-labour-mps), a Labour peer and veteran of successive governments, as ambassador in Washington

UK defence funding crisis has been a long time coming

resignation as defence secretary](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/11/john-healey-resigns-defence-secretary-military-spending) on Thursday was a long time brewing, though in the end the denouement was swift. It leaves an already weak Keir Starmer

Ministers rally around Keir Starmer as leadership questions grow over Mandelson saga – UK politics live

Keir Starmer faces yet another difficult day as prime minister as questions about his leadership swirl caused by the Peter Mandelson saga this morning, although his cabinet colleagues are rallying around him. Starmer’s science

Streeting says he would join leadership race as Burnham vows to 'save' Labour

Keir Starmer as leader should he be selected as the party's candidate in the by-election and win - said the vote must be a moment to "reclaim the Labour party, to save it from

Personal decision for Starmer on whether to fight leadership contest, minister says

Starmer, the problem is the Labour Party." Earlier in the week, Sir Keir defied calls to step down, after nearly 90 of his own MPs urged him to go and five ministers resigned

Why UK’s Makerfield by-election matters far beyond one parliamentary seat

Keir Starmer for the leadership of the ruling Labour Party. Starmer is facing mounting pressure to step aside following dismal council election results last month and this week’s resignation

Unhappy Labour MPs aren't ready to oust Starmer yet

Starmer yet Labour is trailing in the polls and the prime minister's personal ratings have plumbed the depths. The party is facing losses in forthcoming elections: losing control of Wales, shedding councillors in England

Britain faces weeks of leadership limbo in slow-motion coup against Starmer

Keir Starmer has not even faced a formal challenge to his leadership yet. Instead, he is facing a slow-motion coup that could drag on for weeks, with no guarantee that the many Labour

Healey wanted UK to join global defence bank, BBC told

resigned as defence secretary on Wednesday, saying the amount of money attached to the government's upcoming Defence Investment Plan fell "well short" of what was needed. Sir Keir Starmer

Burnham allies confident of No 10 ‘coronation’ after surge in backers

Keir Starmer](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/keir-starmer) in the coming weeks. It was reported on Friday that, after his triumph in the Makerfield byelection, where he comfortably saw off the threat of Reform UK, Burnham’s team

Polls open in historic byelection in Makerfield that could determine Keir Starmer’s future – UK politics live

Keir Starmer’s future – UK politics live From Hello and welcome to the UK politics live blog. **The people of Makerfield, a constituency sitting just outside of Wigan, have at last begun voting in what

Analysis: Andy Burnham's route back to the Commons is clearer - but one big hurdle remains

Keir Starmer used his authority and control over Labour's ruling National Executive Committee to block Burnham from standing. This time, Number 10 has indicated it will not seek to block him again. After

Healey showdown raises fresh questions over Starmer-Reeves power dynamic

Starmer-Reeves power dynamic One of the most scathing accusations made by [John Healey](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/john-healey) in his resignation letter on Thursday was that the prime minister lacks the authority to stand

Global wars, a depleted military and stubborn Labour MPs: Healey exposes Starmer’s perfect storm

Keir Starmer’s rhetoric has always suggested he understood the severity of the moment: just months ago in Munich, he pledged that Britain would “rise to this moment … spend more, deliver more, and coordinate more

How quickly could Andy Burnham become the UK’s prime minister?

Keir Starmer has said he will fight any leadership challenge. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/AFP/Getty Images This is largely a re-run of the scenario above, but with the difference that Starmer agrees a timetable to depart

Labour MPs urge Starmer to set targets to boost number of male teachers in England

Starmer to set targets to boost number of male teachers in England Government ministers have been urged to set targets to boost the number of male teachers in [England](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/england), as backbench

MPs raise doubts over missing Mandelson vetting documents

Keir Starmer had “subcontracted” the decision to appoint Mandelson. She said: “The mistake and criticism one can level at the prime minister is that he delegated and did not watch sufficiently what was going

PM sends Burnham and Labour warning over leadership contest

Keir Starmer has warned Andy Burnham against launching an immediate challenge to his leadership if he becomes an MP, urging him, and the party, to focus instead on the election for a new Greater Manchester

‘An hour of abuse thrown at me’: Jeremy Corbyn on being the target of a Labour coup

Keir Starmer leaves Downing Street on 13 May with his wife, Victoria, whom he has described as ‘his rock’. Photograph: WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto/Shutterstock It was on the evening of Saturday 25 June in 2016, a couple