UNIPA NEWS (London), 12 May 2026: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure within the Labour Party after nearly 70 Members of Parliament either called for his resignation or urged him to announce a timetable for his departure.
The internal unrest follows a disappointing round of election results for Labour across the United Kingdom, prompting senior party figures to question the direction of the party under Starmer’s leadership.
Responding to the criticism, Starmer admitted that his government had made mistakes but maintained that it had “got the big political choices right.” He also pledged to prove his “doubters” wrong as speculation surrounding his political future intensified.
According to The Times, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is among at least four cabinet ministers who have privately advised the prime minister to consider setting out a timeline for stepping down from Downing Street.
The mounting pressure comes after a series of damaging electoral defeats for Labour.
In Wales, the party suffered a historic loss in the Senedd elections, while in Scotland, the Scottish National Party secured power for a fifth consecutive term in the Scottish Parliament.
The elections, conducted across Scotland, Wales, and 136 local authorities in England, represented the largest electoral challenge since Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 general election.
Meanwhile, the far-right Reform UK party continued its recent surge in popularity, winning more than 1,450 council seats and building on gains achieved during last year’s local elections.
Starmer, 63, came to power in July 2024 after leading Labour to a sweeping election victory that ended 14 years of Conservative rule marked by austerity policies, Brexit-related divisions, and controversy over the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, his administration has since faced criticism over several policy missteps and became embroiled in controversy surrounding the appointment and subsequent dismissal of Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to Washington, following reports linking the envoy to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Political analysts believe the latest election setbacks have intensified concerns within Labour over Starmer’s leadership and the party’s future direction ahead of upcoming national political challenges.
