United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a serious Labour leadership crisis after the party suffered heavy losses in the 2026 local elections across England and Wales. The poor election performance has triggered anger among Labour MPs, with Catherine West warning cabinet ministers that she may begin gathering support for a leadership contest if no one challenges Starmer by Monday. The growing rebellion has raised fresh questions about Starmer’s future as leader of the Labour Party and whether he can recover before the next general election.
What happened in the local elections?
The Labour Party lost around 1,500 council seats during the May 2026 local elections, reducing its total representation to nearly 1,068 seats. Reform UK emerged as a major political force in several regions, while the Green Party also gained support in key areas. Labour also suffered a historic setback in Wales, where the party lost its position as the largest group in the Welsh Parliament for the first time in nearly 100 years. The party dropped to third place with only nine seats. Major Labour strongholds including Hartlepool, Tamworth, Redditch, Tameside, and Birmingham recorded disappointing results.
Why are Labour MPs turning against Keir Starmer?
Labour MP Catherine West openly called for cabinet ministers to act against Starmer, saying senior leaders should consider replacing him. She suggested that Starmer could take on a different international role while the party reshuffles its leadership team. Former Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons also demanded Starmer’s resignation, claiming the prime minister had “lost the country.” The criticism reflects growing frustration within Labour over declining public support and fears that the party may struggle in future elections.
What options does Keir Starmer have now?
Starmer still has several possible paths to survive the political crisis. If Catherine West fails to gather enough MP support, Starmer could argue that he still controls the Parliamentary Labour Party. Another possibility is that Labour leaders privately agree on a successor to avoid a public leadership battle. Some ministers may also push Starmer to announce a future resignation timeline. Starmer could also attempt to regain confidence through a major speech and new policy plans focused on issues like energy costs and relations with Europe. Although considered unlikely, voluntary resignation remains another option if political pressure continues to grow.
