UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is being urged to resign, after his party saw major losses in recent local elections.
The calls from his colleagues build on earlier pressure over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the U.S, despite his known links to Jeffrey Epstein.
While Starmer is standing firm, talks have been growing over his potential replacement.
Here’s what you need to know.
Background
Starmer appointed Mandelson as the UK’s Ambassador to the U.S. in February 2025, despite previous media reporting on Mandelson’s links to Epstein.
This year, UK police began investigating Mandelson for “alleged misconduct in public office”.
The investigation came after the release of Epstein-related documents, including images and correspondence with Mandelson.
Starmer issued an apology, and two of his senior staffers resigned from their postings. He was urged to also resign.
Election
On 7 May, the UK held elections for 5,034 local council seats.
The Labour Party lost around 1,200 seats. (This does not affect their majority in the federal Parliament.)
Right-wing party Reform UK (formerly the Brexit Party), led by Nigel Farage, gained almost 1,400 seats.
On the same day, Wales held its parliamentary election, with Labour losing its majority for the first time in history. New leader Rhun ap Iorwerth is from Welsh independence party Plaid Cymru.
Calls to resign
While Starmer represents a different level of government to the Welsh Parliament and UK local councils, these losses reflect on his Labour leaderships.
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The party’s unsuccessful results renewed calls for Starmer to step down, including from his fellow party members.
Around 80 Labour MPs have publicly urged him to resign, and four ministers have resigned from their postings in protest of his leadership.
In a letter to the PM, Health Innovation and Safety Minister Zubir Ahmed said: “I will be forever grateful [for your] sense of national duty before party. You once also said our work is urgent. I now ask you for the sake of that urgency and that national duty, to step aside”.
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said: “I’m not seeing the change I think I, and the country expect, and so cannot continue to serve as a minister under the current leadership” in her letter to Starmer.
Contenders
To formally launch a leadership bid, nominations need to be supported by 20% of the Labour Party, or 81 MPs.
Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham, and Australian-UK MP Catherine West are being pitched as Starmer’s replacement.
Streeting is the UK Health Secretary, and his supporters believe he could challenge Starmer as early as Thursday (UK time), the BBC reports.
Rayner has been an MP since 2015, and served as Deputy Prime Minister after Labour’s 2024 election win. She stood down from cabinet in September after reports she underpaid tax on a property purchase, which are still under investigation.
Burnham served as a UK MP from 2001 until 2017, when he became the Mayor of Manchester. He cannot contest the leadership role as he is not an MP, which his supporters hope to change.
West was born in Victoria and raised in Sydney. She moved to the UK in 1998, and became an MP in 2015. West wants an “orderly transition” from Starmer.
Response
In a speech this week, Starmer said he takes “responsibility” for the recent election results, but also takes responsibility “for not walking away.”
“I know I have my doubters. And I know I need to prove them wrong. And I will.”
The Guardian has reported a letter signed by more than 100 Labour MPs backs Starmer’s leadership.
It reportedly said this is “no time for a leadership contest”.
