![\"Keir](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4960.jpg\")
Keir Starmer and Gordon Brown Photograph: Steve BackShare<\/a><\/p>\nUpdated at\u00a005.41 EDT<\/p>\n
Key events<\/p>\n
Show key events only<\/p>\n
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n
Starmer: ‘I’m not going to walk away from this’<\/p>\n
Keir Starmer is now speaking to the BBC on Labour\u2019s losses in the election.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to walk away from this, that would plunge the country into chaos,\u201d the prime minister said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t need to respond. It doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t need to rebuild. It doesn\u2019t mean that we don\u2019t need to set out the path ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m going to do in the coming days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n We have another Labour<\/a> MP in Norfolk calling for the departure of the prime minister.<\/p>\n Terry Jermy, MP for South West Norfolk (Liz Truss\u2019s old stomping ground) said the local election results were \u201cdisappointing\u201d and that people were \u201cnot feeling the change promised by the government\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is clear the Labour government needs to review the pace of change, what we are prioritising, and how we are delivering it,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cKeir Starmer, as leader of our party, needs to consider whether he is the right person to take the party and the government forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Jermy\u2019s statement follows comments by Labour\u2019s Norwich South MP, Clive Lewis, who said \u201cgreater damage\u201d could be caused if Starmer remains in charge. Labour lost control of Norwich city council to the Green party.<\/p>\n \u201cThe local election results in Norwich, despite Labour\u2019s excellent track record at the city council, and across the country, make this an existential moment for Labour,\u201d Lewis said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will not be fixed by another speech, another comms reset, or another reshuffle.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThe prime minister has reached the point where the question is no longer whether he can recover.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is whether, by staying on, he does lasting damage to Labour\u2019s ability to govern, rebuild trust and stop the advance of the right.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is why a timetable for his departure is now necessary. The longer this is delayed, the greater the damage to the party and the country.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.40 EDT<\/p>\n Speaking of Scottish independence, Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said that, actually, the SNP does not have the mandate to hold a second referendum.<\/p>\n His reasoning was that the SNP did not gain a majority at Holyrood.<\/p>\n PA has reported more on his comments from Edinburgh this morning:<\/p>\n double quotation mark(John Swinney) said if the SNP got a majority that would give him a mandate.<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t, they went backwards in vote share numbers of MSPs elected to the SNP.<\/p>\n So, they\u2019ve actually got no mandate for doing that and I really hope they won\u2019t allow Scottish politics to be distracted by that.<\/p>\n Yet again, there\u2019s so many serious issues. People are really struggling and can\u2019t get GP appointments, they can\u2019t afford the food on the table, they can\u2019t afford their energy bills.<\/p>\n Surely a responsible government will ensure this new parliament focuses on things like matter to families and pensioners and businesses across Scotland.<\/p>\n Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey and Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton celebrate the election results in Edinburgh. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n In Scotland, Green co-leader Ross Greer said his party and the SNP have a joint \u201cmandate to deliver\u201d a second vote on independence.<\/p>\n The Scottish parliament has its highest ever number of MSPs who support independence, with 73 MSPs from the SNP and Scottish Greens<\/p>\n Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer embraces Holly Bruce who won Glasgow Southside in the election. Photograph: Robert Perry\/Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cIndependence is urgently needed,\u201d Greer told BBC Radio Scotland\u2019s Breakfast, adding that his party \u201cwent into this election committed to achieving Scottish independence, and full membership of the European Union\u201d.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI want the next prime minister \u2013 because let\u2019s be honest, it is not going to be Keir Starmer<\/a> for very long \u2013 the next prime minister needs to respect the people of Scotland have made this choice.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a democratic country, people should be able to get what they want at an election. A majority of the parliament are from pro-independence parties and there is an urgent need for this.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A flurry of news on the elections this morning, let\u2019s head to Wales for a moment.<\/p>\n The Wales Green party leader, Anthony Slaughter, said he is \u201copen to having conversations\u201d with Plaid Cymru over the next Welsh government.<\/p>\n Wales Green party leader, Anthony Slaughter, addresses the crowd after winning his seat in the Senedd elections. Photograph: Zoe Head-Thomas\/PA<\/p>\n Plaid Cymru became the largest party in the new Senedd but fell short of attaining a majority.<\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome the defeat of Reform and congratulate Plaid Cymru on their result \u2013 this is a victory for everyone who wanted to keep Reform\u2019s divisive, Trumpian politics out of Wales,\u201d Slaughter said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a welcoming nation \u2013 and Wales needs to stay a place where everyone is treated with respect and dignity, and can thrive.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it comes to the next government of Wales, we are open to having conversations, but no decisions have been made at this point.<\/p>\n \u201cIn any negotiations we will be looking to deliver on the Green objectives that people voted on in this election \u2013 including action to address the cost-of-living crisis, protecting our NHS, fixing the renting crisis and restoring our natural environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.50 EDT<\/p>\n To find out what happened in your area in Thursday\u2019s elections, head to our results tracker here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On Harriet Harman\u2019s appointment as adviser on women and girls, Starmer said:<\/p>\n double quotation markHarriet is a strong advocate for women and girls and I know she will deliver greater opportunity for women in public life.<\/p>\n I\u2019m committed to tackling structural misogyny that is a barrier for too many women and girls. I look forward to working with Harriet to drive forward action on this important issue.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Starmer: Brown will ‘build a stronger Britain’<\/p>\n Keir Starmer has issued a brief statement on social media about Gordon Brown\u2019s return to government.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cToday I\u2019m pleased to appoint Gordon Brown as my special envoy on global finance and cooperation.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Britain\u2019s longest-serving chancellor, Gordon is well placed to work with our international allies to build a stronger Britain and boost our country\u2019s security and resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n Keir Starmer with former prime minister Gordon Brown on the steps of 10 Downing Street. Photograph: International Pool\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Another Labour<\/a> MP has joined calls for Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure.<\/p>\n Tony Vaughan, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, said there should be an \u201corderly transition of leadership\u201d before next year\u2019s local elections.<\/p>\n He said the party was \u201chamstrung\u201d by Starmer\u2019s association with Labour\u2019s mistakes in office including winter fuel cuts, benefits reform, the prime minister\u2019s comments on Gaza and appointment of Peter Mandelson.<\/p>\n Writing on X, Vaughn said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe have to get on with the job we were elected to do. But we are hamstrung if we continue to be led by the personification of earlier \u2013 serious \u2013 mistakes. We must give the public a Labour leader with a clear vision, conviction and the ability to inspire if we are to stand any chance of turning things around.<\/p>\n So I strongly believe that there must be an orderly transition of leadership well before the local elections next year. Otherwise, we are conceding defeat to Farage before we have even started.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.32 EDT<\/p>\n Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has mocked Keir Starmer over Gordon Brown\u2019s return to government.<\/p>\n \u201cAn unpopular prime minister who lost a general election is now seen by Starmer as being the saviour. Labour<\/a> are doomed,\u201d he wrote on X.<\/p>\n