At a glance: Starmer grapples with leadership crisis

At a glance: Starmer grapples with leadership crisis

10 minutes ago

PA Media

Sir Keir Starmer is fighting to stay on as prime minister, as he stares down calls from Labour critics for him to leave Downing Street.

Three members of his government, including Home Office minister Jess Phillips, have resigned, whilst scores of Labour MPs are calling for him to quit following a disastrous set of elections for the party last week.

Here is a summary of what is happening.Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is among a number of cabinet ministers urging the prime minister to set out a departure timetableBut at his weekly cabinet meeting earlier, Sir Keir said he does not intend to quit and threw down the gauntlet to potential rivals to formally challenge him as Labour leaderNo MP has yet launched a formal bid to challenge Sir Keir - a move requiring the backing of 81 colleagues, or 20% of Labour MPs, according to party rulesAfter the meeting, key allies including Housing Secretary Steve Reed and Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told journalists they were continuing to back Sir KeirBut Health Secretary Wes Streeting, seen as a likely leadership rival, made no comment to reporters as he left Downing StreetForeign Office Minister Jenny Chapman, another Starmer ally, acknowledged a "discussion is taking place" over his leadership, but told reporters no minister challenged him at the cabinet table

What's the mood in the party?More than 80 Labour MPs have publicly urged Sir Keir to resign immediately or draw up an exit timetableThree ministers - Jess Phillips, Alex Davies-Jones and Miatta Fahnbulleh - have resigned from the government Six ministerial aides quit on Monday and have since been replacedSeveral sources have told the BBC more resignations are expectedThe BBC has also been told more than 100 Labour MPs have signed a statement saying: "This is no time for a leadership contest", and urging colleagues to "focus" on the jobAlong with Streeting, former deputy PM Angela Rayner is seen as the most likely challenger to Sir Keir among Labour MPsGreater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also has support - but would need to become an MP to stand for leader, requiring a more drawn-out contest

How did we get here?The prime minister gave a hastily-convened speech on Monday in a bid to shore up his positionBut the move seems to have backfired, with the number of Labour MPs calling on him to go rising steadily in the hours afterwardsThe revolt among MPs follows a disastrous set of elections for Labour last week, where it lost almost 1,500 councillors in local elections across EnglandIt was also kicked out of power in Wales and slumped to its worst ever result at a Scottish Parliament electionThe elections had been billed as a key test for Sir Keir's leadership amid dire poll ratings and the row over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, which has led some MPs to question his judgement.