Jess Phillips among four UK Labour ministers to resign as Starmer clings onto position as PM

"The Labour leader vowed to fight on at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, and was publicly backed by several loyal ministers. A statement understood to have been signed by more than 100 Labour MPs, and not organised by Downing Street, urged colleagues to come together behind the Prime Minister. "We must focus on that. This is no time for a leadership contest," the statement said."

"But at least 83 out of Labour's 403 MPs have demanded Mr Starmer's departure after the party's electoral mauling last week, passing the threshold to trigger a leadership contest but without meeting the condition that they all line up behind a single challenger."

"In a letter reported by Sky News, Ms Phillips said: "I want to start by first saying that we have worked closely together on Violence Against Women and Girls for many years and I have no doubt you have genuine knowledge and desire to rectify this dreadful social ill. We have started to make steps towards change whilst in government and I have been grateful for your support.""

""However, it would be remiss of me not to say that real change and direction in this area usually came from threats made by me in light of catastrophic mistakes. The Mandelson saga whenever it bubbled up made Number 10 kick into gear on the subject in order to prove our credentials. I will never waste a crisis to make advancements for women and girls and so demands were made and some were met.""

The Prime Minister vowed to continue leading and said he would fight on at a Cabinet meeting, receiving public backing from loyal ministers. More than 100 Labour MPs signed a statement urging colleagues to unite behind the Prime Minister and warning against a leadership contest. At least 83 Labour MPs have demanded his departure, meeting a threshold to trigger a leadership contest, though not all back a single challenger. Junior minister Jess Phillips left the government, adding pressure. In a reported letter, Phillips praised the Prime Minister’s intentions and knowledge on Violence Against Women and Girls, but said real change required confronting mistakes and making arguments rather than avoiding conflict, which she said had stalled progress.

Read at Irish Independent