Speculation grows that Wes Streeting may launch leadership bid as key aides resign and urge Starmer to quit

"Three government aides have now resigned joining scores of Labour MPs calling for Starmer to stand down following a disastrous set of local election results. Joe Morris, a parliamentary private secretary to Wes Streeting, and Tom Rutland, a parliamentary private secretary to environment secretary Emma Reynolds, urged the UK prime minister to set out a timetable for his departure as they quit on Monday. Cabinet office parliamentary private secretary, Naushabah Khan, also resigned calling for "new leadership" while Sally Jameson, a parliamentary private secretary to home secretary Shabana Mahmood, has also joined around 60 Labour MPs calling for Starmer to resign."

"More than 60 Labour MPs from all wings of the party called on the prime minister to go immediately or set a timetable for his departure, and there was growing speculation that Mr Streeting was about to launch a coup. His make-or-break speech in central London was met with cheers from his audience in the room, but failed to impress furious backbenchers still reeling from last week's historically poor election results. His make-or-break speech in central London was met with cheers from his audience in the room, but failed to impress furious backbenchers still reeling from last week's historically poor election results."

"In a statement on X, Mr Morris said: "I have boundless confidence in the Labour Party and our ability to rise to this moment. "However, regrettably, it is now clear that the Prime Minister no longer has the trust or confidence of the public to lead this change." Mr Rutland said the UK prime minister had "lost authority" within the Parliamentary Labour Party and across the country, and "will not be able to regain it"."

Junior members of the UK government resigned, with ministers expected to follow, amid growing calls for Keir Starmer to quit. Starmer delivered a make-or-break speech in central London after vowing to prove doubters wrong, but furious backbenchers remained dissatisfied following historically poor election results. More than 60 Labour MPs from across the party urged Starmer to go immediately or set a timetable for departure, alongside speculation of a coup. Parliamentary private secretaries Joe Morris and Tom Rutland resigned, calling for a timetable and citing lost authority and lack of public trust. Naushabah Khan resigned, calling for new leadership, and Sally Jameson joined the growing group demanding Starmer’s resignation.

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