Keir Starmer Says No, He Won’t Resign

After disastrous elections for Labour in England, Scotland and Wales last week, the mood in Britain’s governing party is so rebellious that calls are growing for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign. Mr. Starmer, who won a landslide victory in 2024, has not only rejected that idea from some in his party, but, in an interview with The Observer newspaper, also suggested he could stay in power for 10 years. In a speech scheduled for Monday, Mr. Starmer plans to outline how he hopes to revive the party’s fortunes. “People need hope,” he will say, according to excerpts released by his office. “We will face up to the big challenges, and we will make the big arguments.” One Labour lawmaker and former minister, Catherine West, has called on the cabinet to mount a putsch against the prime minister, warning that, if it fails to do so, she could attempt to trigger a leadership contest herself. Britain has changed its prime minister five times in a little more than a decade. Could it be about to happen again? What prompts a Labour challenge? The center-right Conservative Party has frequently replaced unpopular prime ministers, but it has rules different from those of the Labour Party, which has done this rarely. The last time was in 2007, when Tony Blair was forced out, but that was after he had been 10 years in Downing Street, and he ultimately agreed to step aside. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.