Scores of Labour MPs call for Keir Starmer to quit as future hangs in the balance

Keir Starmer during his speech on Monday | James Manning/PA Wire

Scores of Labour MPs have called for Sir Keir Starmer to stand down as the Prime Minister’s future hangs in the balance.

The MPs have called for the Prime Minister to resign following disastrous Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and English council election results last week.

Four government aides have resigned from their roles as they urged Sir Keir to say when he will quit.

Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy MP Melanie Ward, a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, quit saying that at last week’s elections, “so many of my constituents told me they could not vote for Labour as long as Keir Starmer remains Prime Minister”.

Joe Morris, a PPS to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Tom Rutland, a PPS to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, told the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his departure as they quit on Monday evening.

Cabinet Office PPS Naushabah Khan also resigned, calling for “new leadership”, and Sally Jameson, a PPS to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, has called for Sir Keir to quit.

In a statement on social media, Ms Ward said: “Keir Starmer did important work to change the Labour Party, and governing in a time like this will never be easy.

“But the message from last week’s elections was clear; the Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the public to lead this change.”

Another five of the rebels are Scottish. Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman and Falkirk MP Euan Stainbank had backed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s call for Sir Keir to resign in February.

Three more - North Ayrshire and Arran’s Irene Campbell, Central Ayrshire’s Alan Gemmell and Glasgow North East’s Maureen Burke - called for the Prime Minister to stand down on Monday.

Mr Gemmell was in the government until a few months ago, having served as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) since the general election.

It comes after Scottish Labour slumped to its worst ever defeat at a Holyrood election on Thursday, winning just 17 MSPs.

Sir Keir vowed to prove his “doubters” wrong earlier in the day as he made a speech where he said he would not “walk away”.

In a speech in central London on Monday, Sir Keir said he took “responsibility” for the losses but insisted he would fight on.

Facing down those calling for his resignation, Sir Keir said: “I’m not going to shy away from the fact that I’ve got some doubters, including in my own party.

“I’m not going to shy away from the fact that I have to prove them wrong, and I will.”

After the speech, former minister Catherine West backed down from launching a leadership challenge but urged Labour MPs to call on the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his resignation.

Ms West had previously said she would challenge Sir Keir for the party leadership as early as Monday afternoon in an attempt to force the Cabinet to put forward a replacement as prime minister.

But following the Prime Minister’s speech, the former Foreign Office minister said she would now canvass support within the party for Sir Keir setting out a timetable for his resignation by September.

In a statement, Ms West said: “I have listened to the Prime Minister’s speech this morning. I welcome the renewed energy and ideas. However, I have reluctantly concluded that this morning’s speech was too little too late.

“The results last Thursday show that the PM has failed to inspire hope. What is best for the party and country now is for an orderly transition.”

The main contenders to take over from Sir Keir would be Health Secretary Mr Streeting and and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has also been touted as a potential candidate, but he would need to find a House of Commons seat - and win a by-election - to take part in a leadership contest.

Meanwhile, Scottish Labour MPs have urged Anas Sarwar to continue leading the party north of the Border until the next general election.

Douglas McAllister has said that the Scottish Labour leader and his deputy Jackie Baillie staying in post would give Scots MPs “the best chance of retaining their seats”.

Richard Baker - chair of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Party - said Mr Sarwar and Ms Baillie “have my support” and Graeme Downie said the pair “should stay”.

A fourth MP said the pair should stay “for the moment” but that they could not continue long-term.

Mr Leishman is so far the only Scottish MP to have urged both Mr Sarwar and Ms Baillie to stand down

Mr Sarwar has vowed that he will “absolutely” continue as Scottish Labour leader despite the party slumping to its worst ever Holyrood result.

But he dodged questions over whether he would lead the party into the next election.

Read more: Keir Starmer comes out fighting as he promises radical change - but gives too little detail

West Dunbartonshire MP Mr McAllister said that it the speculation around Sir Keir Starmer’s future meant Mr Sarwar should remain as leader..

He said: "All we're going to be talking about, it may be immediately, or it may be over the next year, is who's leading the Labour Party across the UK.

"We really don't need the distraction of having that upheaval in Scotland as well.

"What I don't want is a leadership and a deputy leadership contest and all sorts of factions and sides.

“It wouldn't be helpful if we've got that going on in Scotland and that going on at Westminster at the same time."

He continued: "For that reason, we need stability. Anas and Jackie have to stay where they are.

"Anas is an extremely talented campaigner, an extremely talented leader of Scottish Labour, probably the best in his generation.

"He is an asset to us. Jackie's got that experience. Why would we want them to step aside?

"I'm not suggesting that they lead us into Scottish Parliament election in five years time.

"The best chance that Scottish Labour MPs have of retaining their seats and being re-elected whenever we have the Westminster general election is with an Anas and Jackie leading that campaign."

Read more: Scots Labour MPs warn against quick Keir Starmer leadership challenge

Glenrothes and Mid Fife MP Mr Baker - whose wife Claire Baker was elected as a list MSP for the fifth time - did not place the blame for the poor result on Mr Sarwar.

He said: “[Anas Sarwar and Jackie Baillie] have my support.

“The results across the UK show how tough the challenge was in Scotland, Anas led us to 37 MPs, won the leader debates in the election, but did not get the result he and our great candidates deserved.”

Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie said: “They should stay.”

A fourth MP said Mr Sarwar and Ms Baillie had to take some of the blame, but that they should stay for now.

They said: “Obviously [they can’t continue] in the long term, it was a disastrous result.

“But for the moment we need them to stay.”

Another MP said that Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander - who ran the campaign alongside Ms Baillie - should also take some responsibility for the poor campaign.