Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out resigning as Prime Minister in May after it was suggested the Labour leader could be forced to step down following the 2026 Local Elections.
The Prime Minister, who is bracing for yet another tough night at the ballot box, defiantly rejected speculation of a coup during a visit to the North West of England.
When asked if he would consider resigning as Prime Minister, Sir Keir said: “We will go in and fight these elections.
“But I was elected in July 2024 with a five-year mandate to change this country, and I intend to carry through that mandate.
“I will be judged at the next election on whether I’ve delivered, and I know that I will be judged on whether living standards have improved, whether our public services are better, particularly in health service, or whether people feel safe and secure as a country in a more volatile and dangerous world.”
Sir Keir was urged to step down as Prime Minister by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar in February.
The one-man revolt failed to materialise in a coup in Westminster.
However, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and ex-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner have been reportedly mulling over challenging Sir Keir for the top job.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is also campaigning ahead of May 7 under the slogan “Vote Reform, Get Starmer Out”.
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
Shabana Mahmood issues statement on ‘heartbreaking atrocity’
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, has also given a statement on today’s Southport report.
She said: “The senseless killing of three young girls in Southport was a devastating tragedy that will leave a lasting mark on our national conscience.
“Sir Adrian’s report is heartbreaking. It shows a systematic failure of the state to prevent a vile and sickening individual perpetrating this atrocity.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Bebe, Elsie and Alice and all the victims of the Southport attack. They have shown immense bravery in taking part in this inquiry despite facing unimaginable grief.
“This government has already taken action to prevent such an awful tragedy from happening again, and we won’t hesitate to do what is needed to protect the public. We owe victims nothing less.”
Keir Starmer responds to Southport inquiry findings
Sir Keir Starmer has taken to social media following the release of the “harrowing” Southport inquiry findings.
He said on X: “The brutal, senseless murders of Bebe, Elsie and Alice marked one of the darkest moments in our country’s history.
“The report today is truly harrowing and profoundly disturbing. It sets out systematic failures that led to this terrible event.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the bravery and determination of their families and while nothing will ever bring these three little girls back, I’m determined to make the fundamental changes needed to keep the public safe.
“I will do everything I can to honour the memory of Bebe, Elsie, and Alice.”
Tories hit back at Reform UK following ‘Boriswave’ press conference
The Conservative Party has hit back at Reform after Zia Yusuf announced released a report called “The cost of the Boriswave” at a press conference earlier today.
The Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, said:
“We look forward to Reform explaining when their new converts will be hauled into the dock to explain the Suella Surge and the Jenrick Jump.
“The Conservatives are under new leadership and setting out clear plans to drastically reduce legal immigration. Reform are busy stuffing their ranks with has-been former politicians whilst pretending they represent change.”
A Tory sourced added: “Zia Yusuf spent months publicly savaging Mr Jenrick and Ms Braverman. Then Mr Farage recruited them anyway. Now Reform are investigating their own frontbench.
“Nigel Farage’s idea of a functional shadow cabinet is closer to a circular firing squad.”
Parents of Southport killer hold ‘considerable blame’, inquiry finds
The Chair of the Southport inquiry, Sir Adrian Fulford has also said earlier intervention by schools, health workers or police would have revealed AR’s fascination with violence sooner.
He continued: “This in turn would have revealed earlier criminal acts committed or in preparation by the perpetrator leading to significant criminal justice and counter-terrorism interventions
.”The killer’s father and mother had failed to stand up to their son or set boundaries and though Sir Adrian recognised they had struggled to deal with him, they also bore “considerable blame.”
He added: “They had knowledge that he had purchased some weapons, and they knew he had tried to leave the house to carry out some form of attack at his old school just one week prior to the fatal attack, when there was a real risk that he was armed with a weapon.
“They also knew of empty knife packaging once the perpetrator left the family home on the day of the fatal attack.”
Southport inquiry declares if public agencies had not failed the murders would not have happened
The Southport inquiry has released its findings, which states: “Failure lies at the heart of why the killer was able to mount the attack.”
The Chair of the inquiry, Sir Adrian Fulford says “this culture has to end” in order to prevent an attack as horrific as that which took place on July 29 2024.
Sir Adrian adds that “no words can adequately reflect the suffering endured” by all victims, and that “it is honour of them, and in the pursuit of meaningful change, that this Inquiry has carried out its work.”
The report itself sets out key failures that “overlapped and exacerbated” each other, and therefore led to the perpetrator – referred to throughout the inquiry as “AR” – to be able to carry out his brutal attack, taking the lives of three young girls, and impacting many others.
The report identifies several failures, including that Lancashire Constabulary’s Community Safety team took view that as soon as they had passed on AR’s case to Prevent, that it was Prevent who was the lead agency, and that Prevent declined to refer AR to a Channel Panel on three occasions.
The report also contains criticism, amongst others, of Lancashire County Council’s social services and AR’s parents.
Reform UK will abolish indefinite leave to remain, Zia Yusuf announces
Zia Yusuf unveiled the policy during Reform’s press conference on Monday
|
PA
Zia Yusuf has unveiled Reform UK’s latest policy, scrapping indefinite leave to remain.
He said: “We will abolish indefinite leave to remain, replacing it with a five-year renewable work visa, with a special visa available to spouses of UK citizens.”
He added that visas will have a “much higher salary threshold” to ensure “all recipients are net contributors” to the UK, and that a “much higher standard” shall be required.
“We will immediately terminate welfare payments to all foreign nationals in Britain, saving £9billion a year in Universal Credit payments alone.”
Over half of ‘Boriswave’ migrants will be citizens by 2029 if PM U-turns on indefinite leave to remain, Zia Yusuf says
Zia Yusuf has that should Sir Keir Starmer u-turn on the indefinite leave to remain rules, that over 50 per cent of the ‘Boriswave’ migrants could be British citizens by 2029.
This could potentially cost the UK £622billion.
That is three times the annual budget of the NHS.
‘Boriswave’ set to cost each household £20,000 – Zia Yusuf
Reform UK have released a report called “The cost of the Boriswave” which claims that the fiscal impact of immigration during Boris Johnson’s time as PM, will cost every household in Britain £20,000.
Zia Yusuf said at the conference: “The Boriswave of unprecedented mass immigration permanently altered the culture of this country.
“It has also altered the lives of British people, against their wishes.”
‘There has not been a debate about the economic damage of immigration’ – Nigel Farage
Speaking at a Reform UK press conference in Westminster this morning, Nigel Farage said: “There has not been a debate about the economic damage of, not just low skilled immigration into Britain, but actually, vast numbers of people who do not work.
“This has come at a potentially massive future cost.
“There is still time, but if we do not do something in the next 18 months, we will be putting around our neck an economic millstone that will be catastrophic.”
‘The future of the NHS is at risk’- Wes Streeting addresses ways to fund the NHS
The health secretary Wes Streeting has said in a speech that the “future of the NHS is at risk”.
He continued to say: “We do not just need to rebuild the NHS, we need to win the argument for the NHS all over again.
“Amidst the cynicism and pessimism, people will only believe things are getting better when they see it for themselves, and they are beginning to!
“The NHS stands as a towering monument to the power of politics to change lives for the better.”
Government ‘will act’ on Southport inquiry findings – ‘We gave our word!’
Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed that the Government will act on the findings from the Southport inquiry set to be released today.
He said: “I gave my word that we will get to the bottom of this and that’s why we’ve set up the inquiry. We will act on the recommendations, it’s really important that we do so.
“So obviously there will be the full report, there will be the recommendations, we can go through them in detail – but this, for me, is a matter of principle.
“It’s absolutely right that we act on the findings of this, and we will act on those findings.”
Questioned on whether organisations should be held accountable, Sir Keir Starmer added: “There does have to be accountability, there should always be accountability.“
“The first most important thing is to look at what those recommendations are, what needs to change, and to be a Government that says ‘we’re going to carry this, we’re going to do what we said’ – we gave our word on this and when we give our word, we’ll follow through on that.”
Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner make visit to school breakfast club
Sir Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner made a joint visit to a school in northwest England this morning.
The trio were in attendance to speak to school staff to mark the expansion of free breakfast club schemes, with an additional 500 opening, adding to the 750 already set up.
The three were pictured chatting with children at the club, as well as speaking about football.
When Ms Rayner walked over, Mr Starmer said: “The football part is over – we’re onto what our favourite breakfast is.”
To which the former deputy PM replied: “Oh, I can join in now then.”
‘Time to look forward, not backwards’ with EU, Keir Starmer claims
The Prime Minister has said it is time to “look forwards” in regards to the UK’s relationship with the EU, 10 years on from Brexit.
He said: “I think there’s also a sense, 10 years on from the Brexit referendum, that we’ve got to look forward now, not backwards.
“Let’s not just have all the old arguments over the last decade.
” Let’s go forward and recognise that a stronger, closer relationship with Europe is in the UK’s best interest.”
He added that the proposed bill to bring the UK closer to EU single market rules is about “trying to make trade easier so there’s less burdens for businesses” and this will lead to “lower prices.”
Stronger relationship with the EU is in ‘the UK’s best interests’, Keir Starmer urges
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said a stronger relationship with Europe is in “the UK’s best interest”, when asked about legislation that would allow ministers to sign the UK up to EU single market rules without a full vote in Parliament.
He told BBC 5 Live: “A stronger, closer relationship with Europe is in the UK’s best interest, particularly in a world that is as volatile as it is at the moment, and I know that worries a lot of people.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called the proposals the “worst of both worlds.”
She told Sky: “The problem is it’s the worst of both worlds. It won’t help growth. Why should we be out of the EU, able to make our own choices and not take those decisions?”
“Remember we are a competitive, competing economy. Taking EU rules without having a vote on them is completely wrong. If you want to be in the EU, come out and say ‘We want to go back into the EU’. That’s what they’re not brave enough to do.
“So they’re picking this weird hybrid, which is the worst of both worlds. It’s not in the EU, it’s not out. It’s just doing whatever the EU is doing.”
Prime Minister condemns Strait of Hormuz blockade as UK ‘not getting dragged into Iran War’
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated “we are not supporting the blockade” of the Strait of Hormuz announced by US President Donald Trump and the UK is “not getting dragged in” to the Iran war.
The news comes after Sir Keir urged both Iran and the US to “find a way through” following a breakdown in peace talks in Pakistan.
In a conversation with the Sultan of Oman, Mr Starmer said a continuation of the ceasefire would be “vital” and that “all parties avoided any further escalation.”
Kemi Badenoch refuses to say if US blockade is a bad idea
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has refused to condemn the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz by Donald Trump.
When asked if the UK should be involved, she said: “What I’ve said is if you break it, you own it. What’s unclear to us is what his strategy is and I don’t think that if the strategy is unclear, we should be getting involved.
“What I want Keir Starmer to do is focus on the national interest, deal with things that he can handle domestically.”
Asked if the blockade was a good idea, she said the UK is “on the side of the United States” in the Iran war, but she is “not in a position to give operational, sort of, suggestions on what should be happening.”
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith slams ’embarrassing’ handling of the Strait of Hormuz by Labour
Conservative MP Andrew Griffith has called the lack of Royal Navy presence in the Strait of Hormuz an “embarrassment” on GB News this morning.
He said: “We have such a diminished Royal Nay, the last government invested heavily in mine sweepers, but they were removed from the gulf before any of these matters started.”
“We should be less of a bystander the Prime Minister is making us become.”
Donald Trump is set to block the Strait of Hormuz at 3pm today after peace talks with Iran collapsed.
UK will not be involved in the Strait of Hormuz blockade
The UK will not be involved a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a government spokesman stated.
They said: “We continue to support freedom of navigation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is urgently needed to support the global economy and the cost of living back home.
“The Strait of Hormuz must not be subject to tolling.”
They added: “We are urgently working with France and other partners to put together a wide coalition to protect freedom of navigation.”
The statement comes after Donald Trump said that US would be blocking the vital shipping route from 3pm UK time today.
MPs will get to vote on new EU rules, source says
MPs will get a vote on new rules before they are imposed on the UK, a source has said.
Sir Keir Starmer’s EU reset legislation is expected to be included in May’s King’s Speech later this year.
A Government source rejected the suggestion that MPs will have no say on new EU regulations.
“We are clear Parliament will have a role for new deals and on new EU laws applying under those deals,” the source told GB News.
The People’s Channel understands MPs will retain the ability to rubber-stamp new deals rather than debate and vote on all new directives.
A Government spokesman added: “The bill will go through Parliament in the normal way.
“Any new treaties or deals with the EU will also face parliamentary scrutiny, and Parliament will have a role in approving new EU laws required under those deals via secondary legislation.
“This will allow us to deliver a “food and drink” trade deal worth £5.1billion a year, backing British jobs and slashing costly red tape for our farmers, producers and businesses.”
What is the UK negotiating with the EU?
Sir Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset includes negotiations on key areas with the European Union.
A new sanitary and phytosanitary agreement could impact farmers.
Meanwhile, negotiations on trading emissions and electricity look set to hit Britain’s energy independence.
Keir Starmer accused of ‘direct Brexit betrayal’ as Labour plots putting UK under EU control
Sir Keir Starmer has been hit with a fresh wave of Brexit fury amid plans to sign the UK up to new EU’s single market rules.
Ministers are set to introduce legislation to align the UK with future Brussels-derived regulations without normal parliamentary scrutiny.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned the move was a “backdoor attempt to drag Britain back under EU control”.
Mr Farage added: “Accepting their rules without a vote is a direct betrayal of the Brexit referendum and a total breach of the Government’s manifesto promises.
“The British people didn’t vote to become rule-takers, and we will fight this every step of the way.”
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith also said: “Labour are still fighting the referendum because they fundamentally cannot accept the democratic decision the British people made.”