Starmer warned he’s ‘lost the country’ as he’s urged to resign by former ally

Politics
10 May 2026 • 6:37 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Starmer warned he’s ‘lost the country’ as he’s urged to resign by former ally

  • Sir Keir Starmer is battling to retain his leadership of the Labour Party amidst mounting pressure and calls for his resignation following this week’s disastrous election results.
  • MP Catherine West, a former minister, is preparing to launch a bid to trigger a leadership contest, stating she will seek nominations if she remains dissatisfied after Sir Keir's upcoming speech.
  • Josh Simons, the Makerfield MP, a former Starmer loyalist, publicly called for Sir Keir's resignation, as he told The Times that the Labour leader has “lost the country” and should oversee an “orderly transition to a new prime minister”.
  • Despite significant electoral setbacks, including gains by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and the Green Party in traditional Labour strongholds, Sir Keir has defiantly vowed to lead the party into the next general election.
  • Sir Keir is set to outline a “fresh direction” in a major speech on Monday, with this and the King’s Speech on Wednesday being critical moments in his fight for political survival.

IN FULL