Starmer fights to stay in No 10 after Labour election rout sparks revolt

Keir Starmer is facing a direct threat to his authority after Labour’s election rout exposed how fragile his governing coalition has become just under two years after its landslide win. The party’s projected national vote share in the local elections fell to 15%, its weakest performance since the measure began in 1979, while Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, captured more than 1,000 council seats in England and pushed Labour out of long-held territory in places such as Tameside, Blackburn, Gateshead and Sunderland.

The losses were not confined to England. Labour also lost control of Wales for the first time since devolution, while support eroded in London, former industrial areas in central and northern England, and across Scotland. For Starmer, the result was more than a bad night at the ballot box. It cut into the argument that Labour can still command a broad national majority and govern with discipline ahead of the next general election, due in 2029.

The backlash inside Westminster hardened quickly. By May 12, at least 78 Labour MPs had called for Starmer to step down or set a resignation timetable, and one tally put the revolt at 81 MPs and one minister. Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned as a junior minister and urged Starmer to set a timetable for an orderly transition. Jess Phillips also quit as safeguarding minister, saying she could not continue under the current leadership. Louise Haigh has publicly argued that Starmer needs significant and urgent change, adding to pressure from MPs who say the prime minister has become a liability rather than an asset.

Starmer has so far refused to yield. He told ministers and reporters that he was “not going to walk away” and that Labour’s formal challenge process had not been triggered. He has also argued that the instability itself carries an economic cost, a message that initially steadied markets: sterling strengthened and government borrowing costs eased after he signaled he would push ahead. But the political damage has deepened as the revolt spread from backbenchers to frontbench resignations and outside voices.

Union leaders have added to the sense of siege. Andrea Egan, Unison’s general secretary, warned Labour faced “oblivion” unless Starmer went. Sadiq Khan said the threat to Labour was existential without major changes, while allies of Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester criticized what they called a failed political experiment at the top of the party. No formal leadership challenge has been launched, and no rival has yet openly entered the race, but the election losses have left Starmer governing with a weakened mandate and a party openly questioning whether he can still hold it together.