Key Reads <\/p>\n
Jade Wilson – 0 minutes ago<\/p>\n
Miatta Fahnbulleh becomes first minister to resign <\/p>\n
Calling for Starmer\u2019s resignation, Miatta Fahnbulleh, minister for devolution, faith and communities, has become the first minister to resign.<\/p>\n
She has posted on social media urging Starmer to \u201cdo the right thing for the country and the Party and set a timetable for an orderly transition\u201d. <\/p>\n
Jade Wilson – 24 minutes ago<\/p>\n
An \u201corderly\u201d or \u201cswift transition\u201d? MPs\u2019 language reveals all <\/p>\n
Mark Paul, our London Correspondent, writes: <\/p>\n
A rough way to distinguish between MPs who may be supporters of Andy Burnham and those of Wes Streeting is to watch the language they use when calling for Starmer to go. <\/p>\n
The first cohort of MPs over the weekend calling on the UK prime minister to step aside all used similar versions of the same, coordinated wording, such as the need for an \u201corderly transition of power\u201d.<\/p>\n
Louise Haigh was one such MP last Friday. This \u201corderly\u201d language indicated their preference for a later leadership contest to give their candidate time to return to parliament as MP. <\/p>\n
Streeting\u2019s outriders and acolytes were more prominent later on Monday, usually calling for a \u201cswift timetable\u201d for Starmer to quit. <\/p>\n
Chris Curtis, who broke ranks to ask Starmer to go on Monday afternoon, used this exact wording – he is one of Streeting\u2019s closest allies. <\/p>\n
The \u201cSwifites\u201d want a fast contest that would potentially be held before Burnham was eligible to take part, favouring Streeting.<\/p>\n
Jade Wilson – 29 minutes ago<\/p>\n
If Starmer doesn\u2019t resign, how would a challenge work? <\/p>\n
Labour has strict rules governing \u200cthe \u200cremoval \u200bof a party leader and the system requires lawmakers to coalesce around specific candidates rather than just express \u201cno confidence\u201d in their current \u2060leader. <\/p>\n
At the moment, most of \u200bthose against Starmer have called for him to \u200bset out a timetable for his own departure – effectively asking him to resign without \u200cneeding to be forced out. <\/p>\n
So, if he doesn\u2019t resign, how would a challenge work? <\/p>\n
Any candidate wishing to make a challenge would need to secure the support of 20 per cent of Labour members of parliament. <\/p>\n
With Labour currently holding 403 seats, that equates to 81 backers. Candidates also must meet thresholds for support from grassroots Labour \u200cParty organisations, and from \u2060affiliated organisations such as trade unions. <\/p>\n
Starmer would have an automatic right to be on the ballot paper, if he chose to fight the contest. If \u200conly one candidate qualifies, there is no vote: the candidate is elected unopposed as Labour leader and \u200bbecomes prime minister. <\/p>\n
If more than one candidate qualifies, the winner \u200bis decided by a ballot of all Labour Party members and affiliates. The winner would then become prime minister. – Reuters<\/p>\n
Jade Wilson – 37 minutes ago<\/p>\n
The cabinet meeting is due to begin shortly. <\/p>\n
Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, has arrived to Downing Street by car and did not respond to questions from reporters as she entered the building.<\/p>\n
Reeves\u2019 fate is closely tied to Starmer\u2019s and a new leader would almost certainly replace her as chancellor.<\/p>\n
![\"Media](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/RMY6OPXKXWSPXQX72KU6SEKXXE.jpg\")
Media wait outside Number 10 Downing Street ahead of a cabinet meeting in central London. Photograph: Brook Mitchell \/ AFP via Getty Images Starmer is \u201clistening to colleagues\u201d, chief secretary says<\/p>\n
Starmer is \u201clistening to colleagues\u201d his chief secretary, Darren Jones, has said. Speaking on Times Radio, Jones said: \u201cHe\u2019s listening to colleagues and he\u2019s talking to colleagues. I can\u2019t get ahead of any decision he might take\u201d. <\/p>\n
He did not rule out the prime minister announcing a resignation timetable.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Sky News, he took the same line. Asked if he had spoken to Starmer, Jones said he \u201cspoke to the prime minister last night, as you would expect, and he is talking to colleagues who have raised issues yesterday\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he was also very clear, as I\u2019m sure all of my colleagues are, that coming into the office this morning, as we all are doing, we\u2019re absolutely focused on our jobs, on delivering the things that we\u2019ve promised to deliver for the public\u201d.<\/p>\n
Asked if Starmer was considering setting out a timetable for his resignation, Jones said colleagues were \u201casking the prime minister to consider different options in the future. And, as I say, he rightfully is listening to them\u201d.<\/p>\n
Cabinet meeting this morning at 9am as Starmer clings on<\/p>\n
The cabinet is meeting this morning, at 9am or soon after.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Starmer said he would fight any bid to force him out, and still wanted to lead Labour into a battle \u201cfor Britain\u2019s soul\u201d with Nigel Farage\u2019s Reform UK party, as he insisted he would also fight any leadership challengers. <\/p>\n
He said voters would never forgive Labour if the party turned inwards on itself to focus on a leadership contest in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, The Guardian is reporting that two senior cabinet ministers \u2013<\/b> Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary \u2013 told the prime minister he should oversee an orderly transition of power. <\/p>\n
At least two others \u2013 believed to be John Healey and David Lammy \u2013 discussed with Starmer how they should take a \u201cresponsible, dignified, orderly\u201d approach to what might follow, The Guardian reported. <\/p>\n
Upwards of 70 Labour MPs call for Starmer to step down<\/p>\n
Keir Starmer<\/a>\u2019s job as UK<\/a> prime minister appeared to be slipping away from him on Monday night as upwards of 70 of his own Labour MPs called on him to step down or set out a timeline for departure.<\/p>\n Several cabinet members were understood to have called for him to set out a timetable for his departure.<\/p>\n