London, United Kingdom. Keir Starmer faced renewed pressure on Monday after four ministerial aides stepped down and more than 70 Labour lawmakers publicly called for the British prime minister to resign. His appeal for another chance at an address in London appeared to do little to stem dissent.
Appeal to party and voters
At an address to party members in London, Starmer urged both his party and voters to stick with him and avoid a leadership contest, saying it would bring chaos. The speech appeared to have limited effect in slowing calls for him to step aside.
Reports of cabinet pressure
The Times reported that interior minister Shabana Mahmood and other cabinet ministers told Starmer to consider setting out a timeline for his departure, as Labour lawmakers went public with dissatisfaction after one of the party’s worst defeats in last week’s local elections. The Guardian reported that Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper told Starmer he should oversee an orderly transition of power, and ITV News reported that Deputy David Lammy was also urging him to set out a departure timetable.
Aides resign and posts filled
Four ministerial aides said they were resigning, saying they did not believe Starmer, 63, was the right person to lead Labour into the next national election due in 2029, and that they hoped to trigger a leadership contest that could last weeks or months. Starmer announced new appointments to fill a number of vacant positions.
Resignation letter cites loss of authority
Tom Rutland, a ministerial aide to the environment minister, said in his resignation letter that Starmer had lost authority within the parliamentary Labour Party and across the country and would not be able to regain it.
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