Cabinet split, ministers resign and MPs revolt as pressure mounts on Prime Minister after disastrous election losses
KEIR Starmer is facing the biggest political crisis of his premiership as Labour descends into open civil war, with cabinet ministers divided, MPs publicly revolting and speculation mounting over who could replace him.
The Prime Minister entered a crucial cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning under extraordinary pressure after Labour’s disastrous local election performances across England, Scotland and Wales triggered a wave of panic inside the party.
By mid-morning, at least 78 Labour MPs had publicly called on Starmer either to resign immediately or set out a timetable for departure — almost one in five of Labour’s parliamentary party.
The situation worsened overnight when six ministerial aides quit their roles, forcing Downing Street into a late-night reshuffle to replace them.
The political turmoil is now so severe that financial markets have started reacting nervously, with UK government borrowing costs climbing amid fears of instability at the heart of government.
Cabinet tensions explode
Tuesday morning’s cabinet meeting was supposed to focus heavily on the escalating Middle East crisis.
Instead, Labour’s internal collapse dominated Westminster.
BBC political editor Chris Mason reported that Starmer’s cabinet is now openly split on the most fundamental question in government:
whether the Prime Minister should remain in office.
Some ministers are urging him to fight on.
Others are reportedly telling him privately that he should announce a timetable for departure.
The most damaging intervention came from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who is understood to have urged Starmer to prepare for an orderly transition.
Despite the growing pressure, the Prime Minister attempted to project calm and authority during cabinet discussions.
According to political correspondent Harry Farley, Starmer told ministers:
“As I said yesterday, I take responsibility for these election results and I take responsibility for delivering the change we promised.
“The past 48 hours have been destabilising for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families.
“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered.
“The country expects us to get on with governing.”
However, few in Westminster now believe the crisis can simply be contained.
First minister resigns
The first ministerial resignation came from Communities Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who delivered a devastating blow to Starmer’s authority.
In a resignation letter published online, she wrote:
“The public does not believe that you can lead this change — and nor do I.”
Fahnbulleh accused the government of failing to govern with sufficient “vision, pace and ambition”.
She also criticised controversial decisions including winter fuel payment changes and cuts affecting disabled people.
Her resignation is politically significant because she is regarded as a close ally of former Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Importantly, Fahnbulleh did not demand Starmer leave immediately.
Instead, she called for: “An orderly transition so that a new team can deliver the change we promised the country.”
That wording is already being interpreted inside Westminster as an attempt to create time for potential successors — particularly Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham — to position themselves.
Burnham speculation grows
Speculation surrounding Andy Burnham intensified dramatically throughout Tuesday morning.
Burnham, currently Mayor of Greater Manchester, is seen by many Labour activists and MPs as one of the few figures with strong electoral appeal outside Westminster.
However, he is not currently an MP, meaning he would need to return to Parliament through a by-election before he could formally contest the Labour leadership.
Senior minister Darren Jones attempted to shut down the speculation during a difficult round of BBC interviews.
Asked whether Burnham could return to frontline politics, Jones dismissed the idea as:
“Fantasy politics.”
He insisted Labour should focus on governing rather than leadership plotting.
Jones also criticised the public nature of Labour’s internal warfare, saying:
“It’s right to have challenging conversations internally — as opposed to in public.”
However, notably, Jones repeatedly avoided explicitly guaranteeing that Starmer would lead Labour into the next general election.
That omission fuelled further speculation that even some loyalists are preparing for change behind the scenes.
Two rival camps emerging
Westminster insiders now believe Labour is beginning to split into two broad leadership camps.
One group is thought to favour an “orderly transition” which would potentially allow Burnham time to re-enter Parliament before a contest begins.
Another faction — reportedly involving allies of Health Secretary Wes Streeting — is believed to favour a faster leadership contest that would effectively prevent Burnham entering the race.
Streeting himself has remained publicly loyal so far, but his name is increasingly being discussed as a potential successor.
Other names circulating include:
– Angela Rayner
– David Lammy
– Rachel Reeves
– Yvette Cooper
At present, no formal challenger has declared.
But the atmosphere inside Westminster is deteriorating rapidly.
One Labour MP reportedly described the situation as: “Complete meltdown.”
Rebellion spreads across Labour
Several Labour MPs openly attacked Starmer during broadcast interviews on Tuesday morning.
Labour MP Yuan Yang said she no longer believed the Prime Minister could lead the party into the next election.
She urged Starmer to:
“Take control and set out an orderly timetable.”
Meanwhile Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi said Starmer was:
“Not cutting through” with voters.
She warned that Nigel Farage and Reform UK were increasingly dominating public debate while Labour appeared directionless.
Jonathan Hinder, Labour MP for Pendle and Clitheroe, delivered one of the most brutal assessments.
Speaking on BBC Newsnight, he said: “No prime minister can survive this number of MPs losing confidence in him.”
He added: “Keir Starmer has never been an electoral asset.”
Economic warning signs emerge
The political instability is now beginning to have real-world economic consequences.
UK government borrowing costs rose sharply on Tuesday morning, with yields on 10-year government bonds climbing above five per cent.
Economics editor Dharshini David warned that investors fear a change in Labour leadership could lead to:
– Looser control of public spending
– Increased borrowing
– Higher inflation
– Rising mortgage costs
The UK already faces growing debt interest payments, with roughly one pound in every ten spent by government now going towards servicing debt.
Analysts warned prolonged political instability could further damage confidence in Britain’s economic outlook.
Timing could hardly be worse
The crisis comes at an extraordinary moment politically.
On Wednesday, the King is due to deliver the State Opening of Parliament, outlining the government’s legislative plans for the coming year.
Traditionally, the monarch repeatedly refers to “My Government” throughout the speech.
Yet as ministers arrived at Downing Street on Tuesday morning, journalists openly shouted questions including: “Is it all over for Keir Starmer?”
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy smiled and waved at reporters but ignored questions about whether Starmer should resign.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves also declined to answer questions as she entered Downing Street.
Meanwhile, political commentators noted the surreal contrast between the pageantry of constitutional government and the growing sense that the Prime Minister may be politically mortally wounded.
What happens next?
Under Labour Party rules, 20% of Labour MPs — 81 MPs — are required to formally trigger a leadership contest.
Public opposition is now approaching that threshold.
Attention will now focus on:
– Whether further ministers resign
– Whether cabinet ministers publicly break ranks
– Whether leadership camps begin organising openly
– Whether Starmer offers concessions or timetables
– Whether markets continue reacting negatively
For now, Starmer insists he will not “walk away”.
But inside Westminster, many Labour MPs increasingly believe the question is no longer whether he goes — but when.
