The Cabinet has rallied around Sir Keir Starmer in a bid to see off a nascent backbench coup against him after devastating election losses during his worst day as Prime Minister.
Steve Reed, the Housing Secretary, Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, and Darren Jones, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, were among the Cabinet ministers to tweet their support for the PM as a wave of Labour MPs called on Starmer to set a timetable for his departure.
Liz Kendall, the Technology Secretary told BBC News: “He’s not gonna go, and he not gonna set a timetable. People want us focused on their jobs and their future not our jobs and our future.”
The loss of hundreds of council seats to Reform UK and the Green Party of England and Wales saw Starmer’s position once again come under intense pressure, with a previously loyal minister telling The i Paper: “Keir won’t take us into the next general election.”
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Eight tips for
combating loneliness
Ree Young, works for Mind mental health charity as a ‘befriender’ – this means working with people aged 50 and over in the city of Leeds – who may be struggling with social isolation or loneliness.
Young advises these people on how to get social, even when you don’t want to. Here are her tips.
How to combat loneliness
Social isolation affects us all
27%
of adults reported they felt lonely always, often or some of the time in data published by the Office for National Statistics in 2024.
7%
reported that they felt lonely always or often.
How to combat loneliness
Running might not seem like the most appealing hobby, but if you give it a try, you might be surprised (Photo: EMS-FORSTER-PRODUCTIONS/Getty/Digital Vision/ems-forster-productions)
Stay socially active
Check out what’s going on at your local community centre or learn something new to make connections.
Use technology
Look up old friends online, or use video-call features to connect with those who don’t live nearby.
FaceTiming on an iPad or iPhone is a simple method of video calling (Photo: Getty)
Woman learning to knit with friends in cafe – stock photo. (Photo: Compassionate Eye Foundation/David Oxberry/ Getty)
Get creative
Why not learn how to crochet, write short stories, plant a herb garden or play the ukulele in a group?
Adopt a pet
They can provide companionship, a listening ear and a structured routine. They can be good listeners and stroking them can make us feel calmer and more at ease. Even the smallest pets, like fish, can bring us joy and a sense of purpose.
REE YOUNG, BEFRIENDER
(Photo: fotostorm/Getty Images/E+)
How to tackle loneliness
Join a death cafe
They are safe and inclusive spaces for people to be curious about death in a supportive environment.
Portrait of senior male cafe owner at front counter – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Hay fever can be incredibly disruptive (Photo: Science Photo Library/Getty)
Try citizen science
It’s a great way to feel part of a community, while also contributing to worthwhile initiatives.
Explore your faith
Try attending services if spiritual practices are important to you. They can offer strong support networks and open doors to new people.
Caption: Richard Loynes, with the leaning church of Dry Doddington, Nottinghamshire, also known as St James Church. April 14, 2026. // England’s wonkiest church which has a spire which leans more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa is in vital need of ??100,000 repairs to save its future – but have refused to correct the angle of its famous tower. The spire of St James’ Church in the countryside village of Dry Doddington, Lincs., tilts at 5.1 degrees compared to the 3.99 degrees of its Italian counterpart over 1,000 miles away. Villagers consider the Grade II-listed building “Britain’s answer to The Leaning Tower of Pisa” but there are now concerns for its future as it is need of essential repairs. Tourists often travel to snap photos next to the historic tilting place of worship, which has now launched a fundraiser to raise another ??100,000 11 years after it underwent ??100,000 of renovation work to save its tower. The 12th century church was built originally as a ???Chapel of Ease??? for older residents to attend church rather than walking to a neighbouring village. The tower, dating from the 14th century, is believed to have first shifted in the late 19th century and was underpinned in 1918 to prevent it from tilting any further. Church warden Richard Loynes said: “The church is very much part of the village and we’re proud of its uniqueness.??? Photo released 15/04/2026
Photographer: Tom Maddick / SWNS
Provider: Tom Maddick / SWNS
Source: Tom Maddick / SWNS
Seek professional help
If you are unsure what support is available, speak to your GP. Research local charities and find out what services they have to offer, and try accessing local befriending, group or peer-support services.
There is nothing shameful about asking for help.
The Government must prioritise targeted investment in mental health services, preventative programmes to stop people’s health worsening – including public health funding across the North, a report said. (Photo: Alamy/PA)
Female psychiatrist discussing with mid adult woman during therapy session – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
The six reasons your partner might cheat
Cheating is still the number one cause of divorce, and one in five Brits admit to doing it.
But what are the main drivers of infidelity?
‘If she feels unappreciated by me, sex is off the agenda,’ says the reader (Photo: Getty)
Why your partner might cheat
They want a way out
Sex and relationship therapist Cate Campbell says exit affairs are one of the three “big reasons” she sees.
Fear of commitment
This often happens when a person doesn’t feel good about themselves, or have a fear of being found out.
‘Fathers, it seems, are still expected to put work first and family second’ (Photo: Getty Images)
Senior husband and wife having relationship difficulties – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
A mid-life crisis
Transitions like moving house, new jobs or becoming parents makes cheating more common.
Why your partner might cheat
They’re getting too close to a colleague
This dynamic is usually an unhappy man who confides in a woman in a work context, and it switches from a supportive friendship into an affair.
Side view of affectionate happy couple sitting in the cozy cafe. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
‘Although problems with sex are very common, very few people come for help,’ says one GP (Photo: Getty)
They want something new in bed
Desires change – consiously or not and people may believe they want something different, or to experiment.
Elderly woman sitting alone in her living room – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
WHY YOUR PARTNER MAY CHEAT
They feel lonely
Nobody stays the same in a relationship – and if we’re not communicating that to each other, it can be disconnecting.
Susie Masterson, a relationship therapist, says when people feel undervalued, or stretched too thin in day-to-day life, they can look at their relationship and realise it isn’t filling the gaps.
How to recover from an affair
Infidelity doesn’t have to be the end of a relationship
Psychotherapist Esther Perel says in her book The State of Affairs that affairs can actually save a relationship, by forcing us to address deep-rooted issues and come back stronger.
Campbell says couples should be having conversations about infidelity and what it means to them.
“Often it’s not the affair that ends the relationship, but the fallout – and the way it’s managed. Which is why it’s useful to get some therapy if you can,” she adds.
Think you know all the signs of heart problems? Some might be myths rather than fact…
These are the beliefs to be wary of, according to Dr Abdul Mozid, a consultant cardiologist at Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital.
‘Getting out of breath is just a sign of getting older’
Caption: Senior man laying down on the sofa, watching tv and holding the remote control.
Photographer: PicTour Studio
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
While ageing can contribute, breathlessness is also a common early warning sign of heart disease.
When the heart cannot pump efficiently, fluid can build up in the lungs, making simple activities difficult.
If it occurs while laying down, or while doing minimal activity, it should never be ignored.
LIFESTYLE
4 min read
‘Sleep has little effect on the heart’
There are ways to get a better night’s sleep (Photo: Maskot/Getty/Digital Vision/Copyright Maskot Bildbyr?)
Poor or fragmented sleep increases stress hormone levels, raises blood pressure, disrupts glucose metabolism and promotes inflammation — all of which contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Good-quality sleep is not a luxury; it is a pillar of cardiovascular health alongside diet and exercise.
‘Exercise gives you a healthy heart’
You can ‘out-exercise’ metabolic stress
A young Indian woman sits on a couch at home, holding her hand over her heart, grimacing as she feels severe pain in her chest – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
This is not true. A poor diet high in saturated fats, refined sugars and salt promotes high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension, regardless of your activity levels.
Analysis
3 min read
Other heart health myths to ignore
Only “bad” cholesterol matters
While HDL cholesterol may be associated with lower risk in some contexts, it does not provide total immunity to heart problems. Managing LDL levels remains crucial as part of your overall health.
(Photo: Jacob Wackerhausen/Getty).
Midlife depression. Sad upset middle aged woman at home, feeling lonely. Aging anxiety and loneliness concept – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
It’s just anxiety
Women are more likely to present with less “classic” heart attack symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, jaw pain or back discomfort. If symptoms are new or persistent, cardiac issues must be considered.
‘Heart disease is an older person problem’
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in women, yet risk is often underestimated. Symptoms may be subtle and attributed to life stage or stress.
Recognising these unique risk enhancers is vital to earlier diagnosis and prevention.
The older couple has a conflict. Upset mature woman, quarrel with her husband. Relationship crisis – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Caption: BERLIN, GERMANY – AUGUST 13: Symbolic photo on the topic of problems in a relationship. An older woman and an older man are sitting at home on August 13, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)
Photographer: Thomas Trutschel
Provider: Photothek via Getty Images
Source: Photothek
Fridge or cupboard?
This is your definitive guide on where and how to store your foods at home to maximise the quality and shelf life, from ketchup and butter to nuts and jam.
Where to store the basics
Keeping butter in the fridge maximises food safety and freshness.
Ketchup and mayonnaise can be stored in the cupboard but once opened, are best in the fridge.
Bread shouldn’t be refridgerated due to the starch molecules. A bread bin at room temparture, or an airtight container is best.
LIFESTYLE
6 min read
How and where to store food items
There is a fine line between ripe or matured and spoilt.
Jam
Keeping it in the fridge will help it last longer.
Eggs
Storing them at a constant cool temperature, preferably in the fridge, will keep them safe to eat.
Berries
Keeping them in the fridge slows down mould growth and keeps them fresh.
LIFESTYLE
5 min read
Where to store your food
Caption: Fresh organic tomato closeup .
Photographer: Maria Korneeva
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF
Tomatoes
Ripe ones should be kept on the counter uncovered if you’re going to enjoy them in the first few days after purchase.
Potatoes
They need to be in a dry, dark place like a cupboard. Exposure to light or moisture can rot the skin.
When you cook potatoes the right way they go from being a health burden to a health hero (Photo: Getty)
Caption: A Hand holding a bit brown banana
Photographer: bauwimauwi
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Bananas
12°C is best, as they will ripen quicker if they are too warm, so a darker space with no direct sunlight is ideal.
Fridge or cupboard?
1Apples are best in cool to cold temperatures so the salad compartment of the fridge is ideal to keep them crunchy.
2At room temperature lemons stay good for a week but in the fridge it stretches to two.
3Ripe avocados should go in the fridge to slow down the ripening process but if they’re firm, a warm sunny spot is best.
4Soy sauce, due to the high levels of salt, is best in the cupboard – even once opened.
Where to store your food
Nuts
Nuts are fine in the cupboard but keeping them in the fridge in an airtight container helps prevent spoilage.
Caption: Cookie jar, tea, wine, nuts, books, lit candles and Christmas decorations on the table. Cozy Christmas hygge at home. Selective focus.
Photographer: Jelena990
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Garlic bulbs (Photo: Emma Dahl/RHS)
Garlic
This suits dry, dark places so a cupboard is ideal.
Onions
Low temperatures can transform the starches of the onion into sugars, making it soft, and potentially mouldy.
Close up shot of man chopping onions during cooking class – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Are you ready for a change?
One career expert shares the surefire signs you’re ready for the next step in your career, and how to turn fear into excitement for new opportunities.
The research
Our research shows almost half of all workers (45 per cent) are ready for a complete career transition, but 49 per cent feel stuck on what to pursue next. The rapid shifts brought about by AI can be intimidating, but it will also create opportunities…
CHARLOTTE DAVIES, LINKEDIN UK CAREER EXPERT
Young woman at her first job interview with the owner of a coffee shop – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Signs you’ve outgrown your role
(Photo: Getty).
It’s an energy drain
If you’re clocking in and out with zero energy, that could be a sign of burnout by boredom.
You’re not learning
If you can handle all tasks on autopilot, you are not challenging yourself. Instead you’re operating purely on muscle memory.
Education, laptop and typing with student friends in library of university together for learning or study. Computer, development or growth with serious men and women on college campus for scholarship – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
(Photo: DMP/Getty Images).
You don’t feel valued
It can be extremely demotivating, and if it occurs consistently, it’s a strong signal that it might be time to consider moving on.
Your brain has started a side project
Caption: Side hustles
Photographer: swissmediavision
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+
When you are seeking out professional development and learning opportunities elsewhere that should be happening at work, it’s a huge signal that you need a job that keeps up with your ambition.
LIFESTYLE
7 min read
You don’t see a path to promotion
Medium shot of businessman leading meeting in office conference room – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
If you go into a meeting asking for a growth plan or a promotion roadmap and all you get are vague promises and non-committal language, that’s actually your answer: they aren’t planning for your potential.
A manager who truly values you should be able to list specific training, projects or goals to get you to the next level.
What to do next
You don’t need to make drastic moves.
The very first step is to diagnose the root cause if things feel unsettled, and don’t just assume it’s the job itself.
Find someone trustworthy to talk to. This isn’t a complaint session, it’s about getting perspective.
Refresh your LinkedIn profile and start reviving your in-person network.
Thinking of a new field? Check out a short course or certification to ‘test the waters’ before jumping.
Can you learn to love pigeons? A much-unloved animal in the UK
Features writer Kasia Delgado went on a safari to see if she
could look past their rat-like nature
The tour guide
People think pigeons are stupid but lots of studies have shown them to have amazing memories, that they can identify people by their facial features, and they have an extraordinary sense of direction.
Florence Wilkinson, author of Wild City: Encounters with Urban Wildlife, took Kasia on a tour.
Positives of pigeons
War heroes
During the Second World War, carrier pigeons were routinely used to send messages, and they saved thousands of lives.
Homing ability
Scientists have put them in blacked-out vans and put miniature goggles on them to blur their vision and still the pigeons manage to return home.
The Dove family
We think of them as all grey, but they vary in shades, and some of them are quite amazingly coloured, says Florence.
Kasia’s feeding test
As I gingerly chuck some seed, wincing slightly, 15 or so flap their wings at me. I wouldn’t say I feel content or relaxed but I don’t hate it as much as I thought I would.
I can see they’re not going to do me harm and after all, they’re just enjoying some free food.
A common myth?
Disease carriers
Research has found that between 1941 and 2004, there were only 207 reports worldwide of pathogens transmitted from pigeons to humans.
Not all walks are
created equal
Read on to find out how to supercharge yours into an unbeatable health-builder
How to supercharge your walk
Get a bit breathless
All walking paces are linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease but there are additional gains made by those who walk at a moderate-to-vigorous intensity.
Walk uphill
Try to find varying inclines to increase energy and muscle burn.
Add weights
The extra resistance challenges your heart to work harder, increasing cardiovascular fitness.
How to supercharge your walk
Uneven ground
Mountainous and uneven terrain work your stabilising muscles harder, increasing the difficulty and output from your walk.
Go Nordic
Using poles engages the arms as well as the legs and core, turning walking into a full-body workout.
A walk is beneficial at any time of day, but after eating could be best. Research has found that 10- to 30-minute walks taken 10 to 30 minutes after a meal can reduce the peak blood-sugar measurements reached.
Slower and lower blood sugar throughout the day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
How to supercharge your walk
Go green
Walking in nature has more psychological benefits than concrete. It’s shown to significantly reduce anxiety and depression.
Improve your posture
Staying tall through the spine, open your chest and keep your eyes forward (not leaning over on your phone..).
Meet outside
Walking is a good time to have conversations, whether with your boss or a friend.
Mistakes to avoid
1Focusing on step count – most research suggests that benefits plateau at 7,000 steps a day.
2Using ankle weights – they can tug at the hip flexors and the knees.
3 Doing one-and-done – just hiking for three hours on the weekend, and nothing throughout the week, means you’re missing out on benefits.
4Thinking it’s not a workout – walking packs in cardio and brain-boosting effects without the recovery time of intense exercise.
Eight million people in the UK are living with heart or circulatory disease
And while chest pain is a well-known symptom, there are more subtle signs you should be aware of too.
Overlooked signs of heart disease
Dizziness and fainting
An abnormal heart rhythm can cause a dizzy feeling. While much dizziness is not serious, it can be associated with life-threatening complications.
Increased breathlessness
This breathlessness could be due to blockages and reduced blood flow in the arteries.
Swollen ankles
Unusual swelling can indicate a problem with the body’s circulatory system and kidneys.
Worsening fatigue
Ongoing and worsening fatigue can indicate an underlying health issue, and it could be a sign that your heart isn’t working as effectively as it should be. If persistent fatigue is impacting you day-to-day, the best thing to do is speak with your doctor.
Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation
Overlooked signs of heart disease
Indigestion-type symptoms
Discomfort in the stomach, chest and ribs, or a burning sensation in the chest area, could all be symptoms of heart disease.
Erectile dysfunction
If it’s an ongoing issue, there could be an underlying health problem, including atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), diabetes or high blood pressure.
It came as number of MPs went public for the first time to suggest that he should set out a timetable for his eventual departure, with others demanding “significant and urgent change” if he is to survive in No 10.
A group of “previously loyal” Labour MPs are co-ordinating a response over the next few days. The group, which one member said was “more mainstream than the soft left” are waiting to hear from Starmer on Monday before deciding whether to respond in public or private and call for a timetable for his departure.
“We wait and see what he’s got to say,” the MP said. “There has got to be a significant new direction.”
Among the most significant interventions came from Louise Haigh, the former Cabinet minister and co-chair of the influential soft-left Tribune group. She told ITV Calendar: “He [Starmer] is doing an incredible job at the moment on the international stage in the middle of global instability and a war. And it is imperative that he is successful in that role because our constituents’ livelihoods are dependent upon it.
“But I think what is abundantly clear, is that unless the Government delivers significant and urgent change, then the Prime Minister cannot lead us into another election.”
Her intervention came as Labour suffered a historic defeat in Wales after 27 years in power. Plaid Cymru became the largest party in the Senedd, with Reform in second place. Labour First Minister Baroness Morgan was among those to lose her seat. She resigned shortly after the result.
In Scotland, the SNP is expected to win the most seats in the Scottish Parliament but will stop short of winning an overall majority.
The Labour Party also lost control of Birmingham and Thurrock to Reform, whilst the surge for Nigel Farage’s party also saw Labour lose control in areas including Redditch, Hartlepool, Tameside, Hyndburn, and Cannock Chase.
It also lost control of Cambridge City Council, where the Greens made gains, and Leeds, where it was squeezed by gains from both the Greens and Reform.
With further results to be declared later today and tomorrow, the pressure on Starmer is unlikely to abate.
But few people currently expect a direct challenge to his leadership to emerge over the weekend – despite claims some of the attacks may be co-ordinated.
Questions remain over Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s future as Labour suffered heavy defeats in the North West of England. One critic said: “What’s clear now is that it’s a given that we would lose the Greater Manchester mayoralty if he resigned from his post.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is the most serious challenger to Starmer for the Labour leadership (Photo: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty)
Starmer: ‘I’m not going to walk away’
Starmer insisted on Friday morning that he is not planning to quit, saying: “The voters have sent a message about the pace of change, how they want their lives improved. I was elected to meet those challenges but I’m not going to walk away from those challenges.”
He admitted to “unnecessary mistakes” by the Labour Government, and added: “Although we were right to level with the public about the scale and depth of the challenges we face, we didn’t do enough to convince them that things will get better, that things will improve – the hope.”
The Prime Minister is expected to give a speech next week setting out a more positive vision for the future, ahead of the King’s Speech on Wednesday which will announce which laws the Government hopes to pass in the next parliamentary year.
Despite the scale of the losses, some in Labour have argued that the results were not quite as bad as feared and pointed to signs that Reform’s support may have peaked.
“The results appear to be panning out very badly but are maybe not as bad as they could be,” one MP said. Another added: “I suspect there will be a lot more chuntering and a bit of stress over the weekend, and it won’t really come to very much.
“It keeps coming back to this: in 2006 there was Gordon Brown stood in the wings and everyone could see he was capable of being prime minister and he was impatiently waiting. There’s quite a few people that are impatient because they would like the idea of being prime minister, but none of them is a slam dunk.”
Labour insiders argue that among the main leadership favourites, only Health Secretary Wes Streeting would benefit from an immediate contest, as Burnham is currently ineligible to be a candidate because he is not an MP, and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is still under investigation over her taxes.
Aides privately agree Starmer cannot lead Labour into next election
A number of Government aides are understood to have privately resolved that Starmer cannot lead the party into another general election – but that any leadership election should not take place until the party and country’s situation has stabilised and the competing visions of those vying to replace him have become clearer.
In a sign that some loyalists may now be turning away from the leadership, a minister who has previously been supportive of Starmer said the Prime Minister needs to set a timeline for his departure.
“Keir deserves respect and to be treated decently rather than a coup,” the minister said. “The best thing is to set a timetable that shows him that respect and dignity. Then we get Andy in. Keir won’t take us into the next general election.”
They went on: “We need serious change. Not just a speech about tinkering with the system. But proper change. People outside of ‘comfortable’ areas want to smash the system; that’s why they are looking right and left. They think things are broken.
“If we continue to offer to patch-up or worse still ‘manage’ a broken system, then voters will continue to leave us. We need to be a proper Labour Party. We don’t want policies that ‘tread lightly on people’s lives’, we want politics that is a wrecking ball to a broken system and reshapes it in a way that works for working-class communities.”
Changing leader ‘can make things worse’
A Cabinet minister warned that removing Starmer was more likely to make the Government’s situation even worse.
“There’s moves, but I don’t think there’s movement,” they said. “There are individuals who, all the way through, have put their own position ahead of that of the party. To use a challenging moment in the party’s electoral life and make it about them and not about the country and the overall party is unforgivable.
“No one in the Cabinet is going to move. I think the party wants us to get our act together, speak with clarity and get on with it.
“I don’t think there’s a majority of the membership who wants to use this moment. The lesson I keep hearing about from members, and I’ve been all over the country, is that the Tories thought that a change of leader would always deliver a better outcome, but things couldn’t get any worse.
“And the lesson is it can get worse. There’s no certainty that comes with any of the candidates who are thrusting at this moment in time.”
Wes Streeting and Anglea Rayner are seen as the other front-runners in any Labour leadership race
A Starmer-supporting MP added that because the results were not as bad as many feared, the chance of a leadership challenge against the PM had receded.
“The scale of [the losses] being a bit lower and the weighting of it towards Reform reduces the chances of a leadership challenge because the soft left want the party to move left, that doesn’t make a lot of sense if your main threat is angry, white working-class people in the North of England.
“And there has been an over-egging of how bad it’s going to be for Keir.
“So I’m expecting a choppy weekend, with lots of public commentary from some people and private chuntering, but I think the possibility of an actual leadership challenge is lower than 24 hours ago.”
‘Things can move quickly’
Another minister said there was little immediate sign of a leadership challenge, but warned: “Things can move quickly.”
None of Burnham, Rayner and Streeting offered any response to the results or Starmer’s future on Friday morning, even as other senior figures pledged loyalty to the current leader.
An MP said they were “not hearing anything from colleagues from the various camps” but added: “At least one camp claims to have the numbers, so the ball is really in their court.”
An ally of Rayner told The i Paper: “Labour grassroots are utterly furious. I’ve campaigned up and down the country and members are seething, and the few that are left are now seeing all their local callers get wiped out. Major cognitive dissonance in Downing Street.”
To launch a formal challenge to Starmer, a candidate would need to win the backing of 80 other Labour MPs, which would trigger a vote in which party members choose between the incumbent leader and the challenger.
Burnham, the favourite to take over as Labour leader, would need to return to Parliament in a by-election in order to be eligible to stand to replace Starmer.
Burnham ‘could struggle to win a by-election’
A number of Labour MPs pointed to poor results in the North West as evidence that the mayor could struggle to win any such by-election, even if a sitting MP were willing to stand down to make way for him.
One said: “Burnham has some difficult-to-explain results. If there’s this amazing ‘Manchesterism’ or whatever, why are the worst results in the country in Greater Manchester? And the kind of policy or strategy he promotes – how does that address the loss of working-class votes to Reform?
“There’s also a mechanical problem in where’s the seat that he could now win if you’re going to become an MP? And then all of the stats so far indicate we would also just be giving away the mayoralty of Greater Manchester.”
So far, the majority of those who have openly called for Starmer to quit have come from the staunch left-wing faction which has always opposed the Prime Minister – such as former party chairman Ian Lavery, who told the BBC that “the most effective thing that he could do would be to have an organised withdrawal from his leadership of the Labour Party”.
It remains unclear whether defeat in Wales and Scotland will boost calls for the leader’s departure. A Scottish Labour source said: “We are looking at another five years in opposition here in Scotland and the party needed a better pledge than just to get the ‘basics right’. [It] very much felt like people don’t know what Scottish Labour stand for and so we need to go back to the founding principles.”
Oxford Economics warned in a note to clients on Friday that the local election results would cause fresh market uncertainty owing to the question mark over Starmer’s position.
Alexander Harvey, an economist at the consultancy firm, said: “The key risk is that any instability triggered by these results – such as a leadership challenge – causes markets to lose faith in the Government’s fiscal plans, driving bond yields up further and weakening economic growth dynamics.”