Starmer Promises Bolder Action Amid Calls from Labour MPs to Quit

Sir Keir Starmer plans to promise bolder action to tackle the country's big challenges, as he fights to convince his MPs not to oust him as Labour leader.

The prime minister will try to reset his premiership in a speech on Monday, following heavy election losses that have sparked fresh calls for him to quit.

A growing number of Labour MPs publicly demanded his departure over the weekend. Potential challenger Angela Rayner said the party must do more to reach voters with squeezed living standards.

Backbencher Catherine West said she might try to trigger a leadership contest after his speech. The north London MP has threatened to canvass support if Sir Keir's address leaves her dissatisfied with his plan to reverse the party's fortunes.

West has said she does not aim to replace the prime minister herself. Her action could open the door for other contenders, including former Deputy Prime Minister Rayner and Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham also counts as a potential rival, though a quick contest would hurt his odds since he would first need to become an MP.

Monday's speech could rank as the most important of Sir Keir's premiership so far. This week's disastrous election results have left his leadership more exposed than ever.

At its core, the address will outline an ambition to place Britain at the heart of Europe through closer EU ties. He said this move will define his government and bolster the UK's economy, trade and defense.

The prime minister will also say the government's legislative plans for the coming year, to be unveiled in the King's Speech on Wednesday, will demonstrate hope, urgency and exactly whose side they are on.

"We will face up to the big challenges and we will make the big arguments," he is expected to say, according to extracts from Downing Street.

"To meet the challenges that our country faces incremental change won't cut it," he will add.

"On growth, defence, Europe, energy – we need a bigger response than we anticipated in 2024 because these are not ordinary times."

Rayner, in a Sunday statement, stopped short of launching her own bid. She warned Labour faces its last chance to mend ties with voters hit by squeezed living standards.

In her lengthy statement, she demanded immediate action to cut household costs, aid for struggling high streets, a higher minimum wage and more public and community ownership across the board.

She also supported Burnham's return to Westminster. She said Labour erred in blocking him from a February by-election and the party needs to bring its best players into Parliament.

Labour lost nearly 1,500 councillors in local elections across England, as Nigel Farage's Reform UK surged and the Greens gained ground in London and other urban areas.

The party also lost power in Wales, where it had dominated for a century. It won just 17 of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, its worst result ever at Holyrood.

The elections marked the biggest test for Sir Keir since Labour's 2024 landslide victory, against a backdrop of poor poll ratings.

More than 30 Labour MPs have publicly called for the prime minister to resign or set a departure timetable.

The party's rules pose a barrier, however. Contenders need backing from 81 Labour MPs, or one-fifth of the total, to start a contest.

Burnham's allies hope to delay any contest until he can enter Parliament. No MP has offered to step aside for him.