Sir Keir Starmer faced a UK cabinet crisis on Tuesday, May 12, in London, United Kingdom, as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood joined ministers urging him to set out a resignation timetable.
The cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street followed at least 72 Labour MPs calling for Starmer to resign immediately or to name a date to leave, according to UK media tallies.
No 10 replaced six ministerial aides late Monday after they quit amid the revolt, while Labour MP Catherine West collected names from MPs pressing Starmer to step down by September.
A formal leadership challenge would require support from 81 Labour MPs, or 20% of the parliamentary party.
The pressure followed Labour’s poor performance in last week’s elections. Starmer admitted in a Monday speech that the government had “made mistakes” but said he would not “walk away” and pledged action on European Union ties, British Steel and opportunities for young people.
More than 70 Labour MPs called on Starmer to quit, Sky News reported, while The Guardian said senior cabinet figures split between urging him to fight on and advocating an orderly transition.
Starmer’s allies warned that a leadership contest could deepen instability during economic pressure and overseas tensions, while critics said the prime minister had lost authority with voters and his own party.
The meeting took place on Tuesday morning in London, equivalent to early afternoon in Pakistan Standard Time.
