U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting for his political survival after a disastrous set of results in local elections for his Labour Party last week.
Dozens of Labour lawmakers are calling on Starmer to resign. A resignation announcement could possibly come after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, if members tell Starmer that he has lost too much support within the party.
In a blow to Starmer, a junior minister became the first member of his government to quit. But Starmer is vowing to stay on for now.
Here's the latest:
Starmer resolves to stay in office
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer doubled down Tuesday on his resolve to stay in office, despite calls to step down.
Starmer told Cabinet ministers that he took responsibility for devastating losses that his center-left Labour Party suffered in last week’s local elections across the U.K., but he would fight on.
Starmer said there’s a process to oust a leader and that hadn’t been triggered.
“The country expects us to get on with governing,” he said. ”That is what I am doing and what we must do.”
Junior minister quits UK government
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer lost the first member of his government Tuesday as he faced pressure to step down following losses in local elections.
Housing, communities and local government minister Miatta Fahnbulleh stepped down and urged Starmer “to do the right thing for the country” and set a timetable to step aside.
Fahnbulleh, a junior minister who is considered to be on the left of the party, said that she was proud of her service, but that the government hadn't acted with the vision, pace and mandate for change it had been given by voters.
How Starmer could be replaced
The next U.K. national election doesn’t have to be held until 2029, but British politics allows parties to change leader midterm without the need for a general election.
If it comes to it, the simplest option would be for U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces his intention to resign, triggering an election for the Labour leadership. A resignation announcement could possibly come if members of his Cabinet tell Starmer in their regular meeting on Tuesday that he has lost too much support within the party.
If Starmer doesn’t resign, he could face a challenge from one or more Labour lawmakers.
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