Sir Keir Starmer is delivering a reset speech as he fights to save his political future after dismal local election results and the growing threat of a leadership challenge.
Both Ms Rayner and health secretary Wes Streeting are seen as potential leadership contenders, although both are yet to make a move against the prime minister.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is also seen as candidate, although he is still not an MP after Sir Keir prevented him becoming Labour’s candidate in February’s Gorton and Denton by-election. Over the weekend, Ms Rayner said Sir Keir must “prioritise making people better off” and called the blocking of Mr Burnham a “mistake”.
In a major speech on Monday, the prime minister has pledged to “face up to the big challenges” and strengthen ties with Europe.
He faces immense pressure as dozens of Labour MPs publicly call for him to resign after the party lost almost 1,500 seats in Thursday’s local elections.
Labour MP Catherine West called on cabinet members to challenge Sir Keir by Monday, or she will start formally gathering names to trigger a contest.
Read MoreStarmer faces fight for survival as Rayner issues ‘last chance’ ultimatum
Rayner, Streeting or Burnham? Who could replace Starmer as PM if he’s forced to resign
Starmer to promise ‘strength through fairness’ as he battles to stay in No 10
Angela Rayner’s ultimatum to Starmer: move hard left if you want to stay PM
Key Points
- Defiant Starmer to pledge sweeping changes in last-ditch reset
- Rayner urges Starmer to change course as it may be Labour’s ‘last chance’
- Starmer gathers allies to see off Labour MP's leadership threat
- Analysis: Starmer in the last chance saloon as Labour leader and prime minister
- Watch live: Starmer gives major make-or-break speech against leadership threat
Watch live: Starmer gives major make-or-break speech against leadership threat
10:04 , Holly Evans
Watch live: Starmer gives major make-or-break speech against leadership threat
Labour has bussed in as many members as it could find
10:00 , David MaddoxOur political editor David Maddox is central London and will be bringing you all the latest updates from Sir Keir Starmer’s speech:
The room at the central London location for the prime minister's speech is packed out with standing room only.
It is clear that Labour has made an effort to bus in as many supporters as it can to bolster the embattled Sir Keir Starmer.
But there is a distinct lack of ministers. Only party chair Anna Turley and deputy leader Lucy Powell have been brought in to provide support.
Sir Keir Starmer set to give speech at 10am
09:57 , Holly EvansThe prime minister is set to give a reset speech at Downing Street at 10am.
Sir Keir Starmer will insist his plan will demonstrate “hope, urgency and exactly whose side we are on” after Labour’s disastrous election results in England, Scotland and Wales put his position in peril.
Who could challenge Starmer as Labour leader? The runners and riders best set for No 10
09:48 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer is fighting to save his increasingly threatened premiership as he faces mounting calls to resign over a bruising set of local elections.
The prime minister said he took responsibility for the results, which saw the Labour Party lose more than 1,000 councillor seats, but insisted he would not walk away.
He has faced relentless criticism of his leadership since he took office in July 2024, compounded by a string of U-turns and, more recently, the impact of Peter Mandelson’s security vetting scandal.
Read the full article here:
Who could challenge Starmer as Labour leader? Here are the runners and riders
'Be careful what you wish for': Senior Labour MP warns against unseating Starmer
09:36 , Holly EvansA senior Labour MP has warned his colleagues against triggering a leadership contest to unseat Sir Keir Starmer.
In a statement , Nick Smith, the MP for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, told his colleagues: “Be careful what you ask for.”
In a rare public intervention, the influential backbencher added: “In their Government years the Conservative Party tore itself apart with leadership battles and our country suffered. Do we want to copy that?
“The world is going through a crisis with the Iranian blockade and war in Ukraine. This has knocked our domestic economy sideways. We need calm heads to get us through this.
“The prime minister has the right credentials to get us through these extraordinary times.
“We do need to reflect on the terrible results of last week, but we also need to unite.”
Sarwar and Baillie must go, says Scottish Labour MP
09:17 , Holly EvansA Scottish Labour MP has called for the party’s leadership to stand down after losing seats at the Holyrood election.
Labour sunk to 17 seats last week, but managed to claim joint second with Reform UK.
Speaking on Monday, Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman – a frequent critic of the party’s leadership at a UK level – said it was time for leader Anas Sarwar and his deputy Dame Jackie Baillie to quit.
Asked if they should stand down, he told BBC Radio Scotland: “Absolutely.
“There’s talk of a national wave, now don’t get me wrong, Keir Starmer came up very, very regularly on the doorsteps, there has been a national wave against Keir Starmer.
“But what I will say is, if you want to take credit for going from two Scottish Labour MPs in the general election to 37, then you’ve got to say that was a national wave.
“Anas and Jackie cannot take the credit for that but then look at us being reduced to 17 MSPs and not hold up their hands and be accountable and responsible for that.”
Former Labour deputy leader criticises Catherine West leadership bid
09:03 , Holly EvansFormer Foreign Office minister Catherine West has said she will launch a bid to challenge Sir Keir for the Labour leadership if she is still “dissatisfied” after his speech.
She has drawn criticism from former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson, whose resignation as a junior minister in 2006 played a key role in toppling Tony Blair.
In a post on Substack, Lord Watson dismissed Ms West’s plan as “amateur dramatics”, saying: “MPs and former MPs in the Lords are not judges on Strictly Come Dancing.”
He added: “Of course Labour MPs are entitled to be angry. The results were grim and the warning signs are real. But a governing party cannot conduct itself as though every poor weekend of coverage requires a fresh regicide timetable.”
Cryptic message from Labour leadership hopeful
08:49 , David MaddoxDefence minister Al Carns is quietly been talked up by a number of Labour MPs as a potential leadership contender.
The former Royal Marines commander was only elected in 2024 but supporters have told The Independent that they are putting together a team for him if there is a leadership contest.
As Sir Keir Starmer prepares to give a speech to save his premiership this morning, Mr Carns has yet to endorse him.
But he did greet the day with a post on X with a picture of a new dawn.
Good morning world. Have a great day everyone. pic.twitter.com/7XRbkJECx9
— Al Carns (@AlistairCarns) May 11, 2026
What is Sir Keir Starmer set to say in his speech?
08:37 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer is set to promise sweeping changes as he battles to save his job on Monday.
The prime minister will say: “To meet the challenges that our country faces, incremental change won’t cut it.
“On growth, defence, Europe, energy – we need a bigger response than we anticipated in 2024 because these are not ordinary times.
“Strength through fairness. It’s a core Labour argument. And you will see those values writ large in the King’s Speech. And you will see hope, urgency and exactly whose side we are on.”
Sir Keir has acknowledged the early part of his premiership was too gloomy, with ministers setting out the parlous state of the economy and public services they inherited without sufficiently highlighting plans to improve people’s lives.
“People need hope,” he will say. “We will face up to the big challenges and we will make the big arguments.”
Sir Keir will highlight his efforts to build new ties with Brussels, saying: “This Labour Government will be defined by rebuilding our relationship and by putting Britain at the heart of Europe. So that we are stronger on the economy, on trade, on defence, you name it.
“Because standing shoulder to shoulder with the countries that most share our interests, our values and our enemies – that is the right choice for Britain, that is the Labour choice.”
The towns and cities that show politics in England is splintering from two-party system
08:22 , Holly EvansLocal elections in England have seen Labour lose more than a thousand councillors and control of dozens of councils across the country.
Some results are still being declared, but Sir Keir Starmer’s party has lost control of at least 35 councils, with 1,442 party councillors losing their seats, including in historically safe strongholds such as the “red wall” where Nigel Farage’s Reform UK made seismic gains.
The party’s grip on London has also been severely weakened, with Labour losing control of nearly half of the 21 boroughs they previously held in the capital, after a strong showing from Zack Polanski’s Green Party.
Read the full article here:
The towns and cities showing politics in England is splintering from two-party system
Allies of Andy Burnham 'have a plan' to elect him as an MP, reports say
08:12 , Holly EvansIt has been reported in Politico that Andy Burnham’s allies have formulated a plan to return him to Westminster, with a specific MP willing to stand down to trigger a by-election.
The Greater Manchester mayor was blocked from running as an MP earlier this year, and is viewed as a threat to Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership.
The report says that the identity of the MP is being kept as a “closely guarded secret”.
Wes Streeting spent weekend in the cinema instead of plotting leadership bid, Kyle says
07:56 , Holly EvansIf Wes Streeting wanted to run for Prime Minister he would not be spending his weekend watching The Devil Wears Prada 2 in the cinema, a Cabinet minister has suggested.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle told Sky News he was campaigning with the Health Secretary in Ilford “last weekend”, adding: “After we campaigned, we went for dinner and we went and saw a movie together.
“Somebody who is planning to pull the plug and launch a leadership bid in a couple of days’ time doesn’t go to the cinema with a friend.”
Asked what film they watched, he said “Devil Wears Prada”, later describing it as “good” and “fun”.
Mr Kyle also said: “Wes and I are very good friends, but I’m not going to fall into the trap of being his spokesperson, but what I can tell you is that he, like me, is focused on the success of this Government.
“His primary mission in Government is making sure the whole Government is a success and he is there for Keir when he needs him.”
Analysis: Starmer in the last chance saloon as Labour leader and prime minister
07:48 , Holly EvansAnalysis from our political editor David Maddox:
Keir Starmer knows what is at stake when he gets up this morning to make what will have to be the speech of his life.
Already Labour MPs are baying for him to set a timetable for his departure or just quit after the dreadful election results last week and months of a faltering premiership which has failed spectacularly to take advantage of the massive election victory in 2024.
Added to that one former minister, Catherine West, has vowed to start a leadership contest to get him out while his former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has issued an ultimatum making it clear that this is his “last chance”.
For many it is already too late for the prime minister to save himself but he will be hoping that one last reset from many he has performed already can rescue the dire situation and provide him with a semblance of authority.
The trail for the speech was not as inspiring as he may need.
This is a man who has proven he is no great orator on many occasions before and it seems unlikely that at this stage a promise to reverse Brexit will be enough for Labour MPs who want his blood.
But as we head to the King’s speech on Wednesday this will be the start of a crucial 48 hours where Sir Keir will survive or fall depending on what he says.
PM should set out a timetable for an 'orderly transition' of power, MP says
07:43 , Holly EvansLabour MP and former parliamentary private secretary to former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Navendu Mishra, said the prime minister should set out a timetable for an “orderly transition” to give leadership hopefuls time to come forward.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Mishra said such a move would allow the “best people” in the Labour Party time to “put forward their vision”.
Asked whether he was referring to Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, Mr Mishra said: “I think he’s done some really good things in my constituency of Stockport, and in Greater Manchester, and he has the experience of a previous Labour government, having served in senior roles including in the cabinet.”
Asked about a potential leadership bid from Ms Rayner, he added: “Look, I think she’s from Stockport… if you look at her achievements coming from Stockport, as a trade unionist, a Stockport trade unionist, I think are phenomenal.”
Starmer 'is the right person to lead us', cabinet minister says
07:33 , Holly EvansCabinet minister Peter Kyle said Sir Keir Starmer is “the right person that needs to lead us through this” as he defended the Prime Minister remaining in place.
The business secretary said he accepts people are “fed-up” following last week’s elections, adding: “Our party is convulsed by the results.”
He told Times Radio: “He is the right person that needs to lead us through this. He needs to really meet the moment that we’re in. We all need to support him in that, because he can’t do it alone.
“And I’ve said this consistently since opposition, that too often people look to him as one person that can fix every problem.”
Pressed on whether he wants eight more years of Sir Keir at the helm, Mr Kyle said: “I want eight years of delivering for the people of this country, led by the prime minister that we have now, that is actually delivering.
“He has faced so many challenges in office, he has met the moment so many times when it comes to the challenges we face on the international scene, fixing our public services, leading a Cabinet that is delivering, but we recognise that people want more urgency.”
Reform ‘did not do as well as I feared’ in Holyrood election, Sturgeon says
07:16 , Holly EvansMore politicians need to “say it like it is” to try to combat the rise of Nigel Farage and Reform, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The former SNP leader said that Reform – who are now the joint second largest party in the Scottish Parliament with 17 MSPs – had not done as well in the Holyrood election as she had “feared” they might.
Speaking about the party, led in Scotland by Lord Malcolm Offord, Ms Sturgeon said: “They did not perform as strongly as many people, including me, feared they would on Thursday.”
However she added her “fear” is that the new group of Reform MSPs could be will “try to undermine” the Scottish Parliament and “try to be disruptive and just drag politics down”.
The former SNP leader also criticised the “inability of many politicians” on what is “broadly the left of politics” to answer “straightforward questions in a straightforward way”.
Ms Sturgeon, who was Scotland’s longest serving first minister, added: “They sound as if they are trying to speak without saying anything.”
Speaking after stepping down as an MSP, she urged politicians to “stand up and make the positive case for the things you believe in”.
What will happen today as Starmer fights for his job
06:30 , Dan HaygarthKeir Starmer is set to defy his critics in the Labour Party and claim he is the one best placed to “face up to the big challenges for this country” as he delivers a career defining speech to save his premiership on Monday morning.
The prime minister’s speech comes after a dramatic ultimatum by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner who warned his government takes a hard turn to the left if he wants to stay in Downing Street.
With speculation mounting that she is ready to launch a leadership challenge, the former deputy prime minister warned Sir Keir: “What we are doing isn’t working, and it needs to change. This may be our last chance.”
It comes as Labour MPs believe that former junior minister Catherine West is closing in on the 81 parliamentarians she would need to launch a stalking horse leadership challenge.
But in a defiant speech in central London, Sir Keir will use undoing Brexit as the centrepiece of a last desperate reset to save his premiership.
The speech comes against a backdrop of historically bad election results last week with more than 40 Labour MPs now publicly calling for him to quit and many more privately saying he cannot lead them into the next election.
The besieged prime minister will concede that “incremental change won’t cut it” as he vows that “we will face up to the big challenges” the country faces.
He will admit: “On growth, defence, Europe, energy – we need a bigger response than we anticipated in 2024 because these are not ordinary times.
“Strength through fairness. It’s a core Labour argument. And you will see those values writ large in the King’s Speech. And you will see hope, urgency and exactly whose side we are on.”
He will add: “People need hope. We will face up to the big challenges and we will make the big arguments.
“The Labour case that only Labour values and Labour policies can ensure our country not only weathers these storms but emerges stronger and fairer.”
Addressing fears about Nigel Farage becoming prime minister if he stays on as Labour leader, he will go on to say that Mr Farage and the Conservatives are “defined by breaking our relationship with Europe”.
Rayner calls for PM to 'meet the moment' as Labour looks to recover from election disaster
05:30 , Dan HaygarthFormer deputy prime minister Angela Rayner on Sunday said Sir Keir Starmer had to “meet the moment and set out the change our country needs” as she called for Mr Burnham’s return to Parliament.
Ms Rayner and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham are seen as potential leadership contenders.
Ms Rayner, the former deputy Labour leader, called for a shift to the left in a lengthy statement which set out her vision for the party.
“What we are doing isn’t working, and it needs to change. This may be our last chance,” she said.
The Mandelson scandal showed a “toxic culture of cronyism”, Labour is “in danger of becoming a party of the well-off, not working people” and “it is time to acknowledge that blocking Andy Burnham was a mistake”, she said.
While Ms Rayner stopped short of calling for Sir Keir to go, dozens of MPs from across the party – not just the Prime Minister’s usual critics on the left – have demanded change at the top.
Former minister Josh Simons, who previously led the Labour Together think tank on the party’s right, said: “We Labour MPs must square up to the truth. These elections were not a normal mid-term drubbing, they were an unequivocal judgement that our actions do not meet the moment.
“To put the country first, the PM should lead an orderly transition. Senior figures across the party should urgently come together to agree a path forward.”
Rayner, Streeting or Burnham? Who could replace Starmer as PM if he’s forced to resign
04:30 , Dan Haygarth Rayner, Streeting or Burnham? Who could replace Starmer if he’s forced to resign
Sean O'Grady: Keir Starmer has 72 hours to save himself – here’s how he can do it
03:30 , Amy-Clare Martin
Keir Starmer has 72 hours to save himself – here’s how he can do it
Recap: Labour ‘in danger of going extinct,’ Unite boss warns
02:30 , Amy-Clare MartinUnite general secretary Sharon Graham said the party has “abandoned the working class, and the working class have now abandoned Labour”.
Warning Labour must take “a completely different economic direction and political direction”, she told the BBC: “I actually think we're in a situation here where they could be extinct. There's no God given right for Labour to exist.”
Do Reform or the Greens pose the biggest threat to Labour? Here’s what the numbers say
01:30 , Amy-Clare Martin
Which party poses the biggest threat to Labour? Here’s what the numbers say
Recap: Former minister says Starmer has 'lost the country'
Monday 11 May 2026 00:30 , Amy-Clare MartinA former minister and Starmer ally added his voice to the Labour MPs calling for the prime minister to resign.
Josh Simons, who was as Cabinet Office minister until a few weeks ago, declared Sir Keir has “lost the country” as he called on him to set out a timetable for his departure from No 10.
“This is bigger than any one person. All of us must be honest about these challenges, including those vying to replace the prime minister. We need radicalism, energy, and immense courage,” he wrote in the Sunday Times.
“Putting the people I represent and the country I love first, I do not believe the prime minister can rise to this moment. He has lost the country. He should take control of the situation by overseeing an orderly transition to a new prime minister.”
Mr Simons was forced to resign in March amid a probe into claims a Labour think tank he once ran paid for an investigation to “smear” journalists.
Watch: Catherine West calls on Bridget Phillipson directly to challenge Starmer
Sunday 10 May 2026 23:30 , Amy-Clare MartinFull story: Defiant Starmer to pledge sweeping changes as Rayner issues ‘last chance’ ultimatum
Sunday 10 May 2026 22:34 , David MaddoxKeir Starmer is set to defy his critics in the Labour Party and claim he is the one best placed to “face up to the big challenges for this country” as he delivers a career defining speech to save his premiership on Monday morning.
The prime minister’s speech comes after a dramatic ultimatum by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner who warned his government takes a hard turn to the left if he wants to stay in Downing Street.
With speculation mounting that she is ready to launch a leadership challenge, the former deputy prime minister warned Sir Keir: “What we are doing isn’t working, and it needs to change. This may be our last chance.”
It comes as Labour MPs believe that former junior minister Catherine West is closing in on the 81 parliamentarians she would need to launch a stalking horse leadership challenge.
Read more:
Defiant Starmer to pledge sweeping changes as Rayner issues ‘last chance’ ultimatum
Starmer to promise ‘strength through fairness’ as he battles to keep job
Sunday 10 May 2026 22:30 , Dan Haygarth
Sir Keir Starmer will promise sweeping changes to address the “big challenges” confronting the UK as he battles to save his job.
The prime minister insists his plan will demonstrate “hope, urgency and exactly whose side we are on” after Labour’s disastrous election results in England, Scotland and Wales put his position in peril.
The speech on Monday marks the start of a crunch week for his premiership.
Labour MPs will be encouraged to endorse a leadership challenge if he fails to convince them he can pull the party out of a slump which has seen votes and seats flow to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Zack Polanski’s Green Party.
On Wednesday, the King’s Speech will set out his Government’s priorities for new laws in Parliament.
The prime minister will say: “To meet the challenges that our country faces, incremental change won’t cut it.
“On growth, defence, Europe, energy – we need a bigger response than we anticipated in 2024 because these are not ordinary times.
“Strength through fairness. It’s a core Labour argument. And you will see those values writ large in the King’s Speech. And you will see hope, urgency and exactly whose side we are on.”
What happens if Catherine West pulls the trigger on a leadership challenge?
Sunday 10 May 2026 21:30 , Amy-Clare MartinThe Independent’s Athena Stavrou reports:
Labour MP Catherine West has told the cabinet that if they do not put someone forward to challenge Sir Keir by Monday, she will attempt to trigger a leadership contest herself.
Here is a look at how a potential Labour leadership contest could play out:
There is no formal confidence vote procedure to oust a Labour leader, which means challengers need to garner the support of the parliamentary party in order to oust them.
Any challenger would require the support 20 per cent of the party in the Commons, which is 81 MPs currently.
Ms West has pledged to launch a challenge with the backing of 10 MPs so far. This falls well short of the nominations required, but more would be likely to back her as a means to oust Sir Keir. However, her move is intended to spur a potential leadership hopeful from the Cabinet into action.
Written nominations would need to be submitted to Labour general secretary Hollie Ridley, which would then trigger the contest.
In the case of a successful challenge, Sir Keir would be on the ballot by default as the incumbent and would not need to gather nominations. But if Sir Keir were to resign, it would automatically start a contest for a new leader.
It is up to the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee to set the timeline for a leadership election.
Comment: Labour is betraying its voters – and that’s why Keir needs to go
Sunday 10 May 2026 20:30 , Amy-Clare MartinIn 40 years of campaigning, I have never known a Labour leader’s name come up on the doorstep in the way the prime minster’s did at these elections – the damage he is doing to our special party is unforgivable, says Labour MP Kate Osborne:
Labour is betraying its voters – and that’s why Keir needs to go
Leading trade union calls for commission into electoral reform
Sunday 10 May 2026 19:40 , Amy-Clare MartinA leading Labour-affiliated trade union has called for an independent commission into electoral reform amid support for proportional representation at elections.
The annual conference of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) agreed a motion rejecting the first past the post system (FPTP).
Supporters of electoral reform said the decision by delegates at the conference in Bournemouth marked a “historic shift” for the union, which becomes the eighth Labour-affiliated union to make electoral reform its official policy.
The motion said first past the post was producing unrepresentative results and was at crisis point.
Ed Baldwin, a CWU regional political officer, told delegates: “First past the post no longer reflects those we represent and is producing results that do not match the will of the people.
“The Labour Government has already accepted it is broken by scrapping it for mayoral elections. If it distorts democracy there, then it distorts democracy at Westminster too.”
Reform accused of failing to condemn ‘clear racism’ after councillor’s ‘Nigerians should fill pot holes’ remark
Sunday 10 May 2026 19:10 , Amy-Clare MartinReform UK is facing intense scrutiny and accusations of failing to “call out clear racism" after its deputy leader declined to explicitly condemn remarks reportedly made by a newly elected councillor.
Glenn Gibbins, who was elected as a Reform councillor in Sunderland in this week’s local elections, posted on social media in 2024, complaining about the "amount of Nigerians in town".
"Should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!!" he wrote in a later-deleted post, according to campaign group Hope Not Hate.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice refused to directly criticise Mr Gibbins on Sunday, instead accusing the media of "smearing" Nigel Farage’s party.
Read the full story:
Reform accused of failing to condemn ‘clear racism’
Reform ‘did not do as well as I feared’ in Holyrood election, Sturgeon says
Sunday 10 May 2026 18:40 , Amy-Clare MartinMore politicians need to “say it like it is” to try to combat the rise of Nigel Farage and Reform, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The former SNP leader said that Reform – who are now the joint second largest party in the Scottish Parliament with 17 MSPs – had not done as well in the Holyrood election as she had “feared” they might.
Speaking about the party, led in Scotland by Lord Malcolm Offord, Ms Sturgeon said: “They did not perform as strongly as many people, including me, feared they would on Thursday.”
However she added her “fear” is that the new group of Reform MSPs could be will “try to undermine” the Scottish Parliament and “try to be disruptive and just drag politics down”.
The former SNP leader, speaking at the Boswell Book Festival, also criticised the “inability of many politicians” on what is “broadly the left of politics” to answer “straightforward questions in a straightforward way”.
Watch: Labour ‘in danger of going extinct,’ Unite boss warns
Sunday 10 May 2026 18:30 , Dan HaygarthThe youth vote isn’t just Green – they are turning up for Farage’s Reform too
Sunday 10 May 2026 18:10 , Amy-Clare Martin
The youth vote isn’t just Green – they are turning up for Farage’s Reform too
Supporters of defence minister Al Carns are urging him to stand against Starmer
Sunday 10 May 2026 18:05 , David Maddox
While the frontrunners for the Labour leadership are thought to be former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, health secretary Wes Streeting and energy secretary Ed Miliband, a surprise candidate is emerging to replace Sir Keir Starmer.
Members of the 2024 intake are pushing for former Royal Marines commander now defence minister Al Carns to put his hat into the ring.
One member of the 2024 intake said: “Why are we turning once again to the same familiar faces to solve problems they were involved in creating?
“If we want to demonstrate genuine change to the public, we need a fresh face leading that change.
“Members of the 2024 intake are still hopeful of persuading Al Carns to stand should there be a contest, and support for that view appears to be growing.”
It is understood that a leadership team is being put together to support Mr Carns if he decides to make a move.
Full story: Angela Rayner’s ultimatum to Starmer
Sunday 10 May 2026 18:00 , Dan HaygarthAngela Rayner has issued a dramatic ultimatum to Sir Keir Starmer that his government takes a hard turn to the left ahead of the embattled prime minister giving a speech to save his political career on Monday morning.
With speculation mounting that she is ready to launch a leadership challenge, the former deputy prime minister, who still has to resolve issues over unpaid tax, has warned Sir Keir: “What we are doing isn’t working, and it needs to change. This may be our last chance.”
Read more below:
Angela Rayner’s ultimatum to Starmer: move hard left if you want to stay PM
Labour MP backs Rayner’s statement
Sunday 10 May 2026 17:47 , Athena StavrouA former junior minister has publicly agreed with Angela Rayner’s statement this afternoon, in which she called on Sir Keir to allow Andy Burnham to return and root out the “toxic culture of cronyism” in No 10.
Labour MP for Cheshire constituency Ellesmere Port & Bromborough Justin Madders shared Ms Rayner’s statement on X on Sunday, and added: “Totally agree with this.”
Ms Rayner challenged Sir Keir Starmer to take Labour in a new direction, in what she warned could be the party’s “last chance” to win back voters.
She also said it was a mistake to block Andy Burnham from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election, adding that the government needs to bring its “best players into Parliament” to regain public confidence.
Rayner calls for significant change of direction in Labour's economic agenda - 'it needs to change now'
Sunday 10 May 2026 17:44 , Dan HaygarthIn her statement on Sunday, the former deputy leader of the Labour Party called for a “change in direction” to allow it to “make working people better off”.
She said: “Policy tweaks will not fix the fundamental challenges facing our country. This government needs, at pace, to put measures in place that make people's lives tangibly better, while fixing the foundations of a system rigged against them.”
The Ashton-under-Lyne MP continued: “Change our economic agenda to prioritise making people better off, change how we run our party so that all voices are listened to, and change how we do politics.
“Labour exists to make working people better off. That is not happening fast enough, and it needs to change — now.”
Analysis: How a Tory MP 37 years ago has inspired a Labour MP’s ‘stalking horse’ leadership challenge to Starmer
Sunday 10 May 2026 17:40 , Amy-Clare MartinPolitical editor David Maddox looks at how Sir Anthony Meyer’s challenge to Margaret Thatcher in 1989 is now being played out in Catherine West’s bid to oust Sir Keir Starmer:
How a Tory MP 37 years ago has inspired an MP’s ‘stalking horse’ challenge to Starmer