Labour divisions deepen as pressure mounts on Starmer to step down

LONDON -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced mounting pressure to resign on Tuesday after several junior government ministers quit, while a number of cabinet members publicly voiced support for his leadership.

Four junior ministers resigned throughout the day. Three of them urged Starmer to "set a timetable" for a leadership transition in their resignation letters, joining more than 80 Labour members of parliament (MPs) calling on the prime minister either to step down or outline a timetable for his departure.

According to British media reports on Monday evening, several cabinet ministers had also privately advised Starmer to set out plans for his exit.

However, a number of ministers rallied behind him following a cabinet meeting at Downing Street on Tuesday morning, including Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall.

During the meeting, Starmer reportedly told ministers he intended to "get on with governing" and stressed that Labour's formal process for challenging a party leader had not been triggered.

"As I said yesterday, I take responsibility for these election results, and I take responsibility for delivering the change we promised," Starmer said in a statement quoted by British media.

British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy also expressed support for Starmer while speaking to reporters outside Downing Street late Tuesday.

"Keir Starmer was elected just under two years ago with a mandate from the British people for five years. He has my full support," Lammy said, urging Labour MPs to "step back" and remain united.

Meanwhile, British media reported that around 110 Labour MPs had signed a statement opposing a leadership contest at the current time.

The latest turmoil marks the third wave of calls for Starmer's resignation this year. Earlier criticism centered on his appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to the United States. Pressure intensified again after Labour suffered heavy losses in recent local elections.

Across around 5,000 council seats contested in 136 English councils, as well as elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, Labour lost nearly 1,500 council seats in England and ceded control of about 40 local councils, including several traditional strongholds.

Speaking on Monday, Starmer acknowledged the election results had been "very tough" but insisted he would not resign.

"I take responsibility for the result," he said, adding that he also took responsibility for "not walking away" and "not plunging our country into chaos."