Starmer under fresh pressure as 50 Labour MPs call for his head and two junior members of British government quit

"Several members of his government have quit this evening, calling for him to step down. Junior government member Tom Rutland, a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, has stood down. He was followed by Joe Morris, PPS to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who also quit and called for him to resign."

"The Prime Minister sought to face down critics on Monday with a promise to prove his doubters wrong, as a former minister withdrew threats to imminently launch a leadership challenge. But his speech failed to quell demands that he quit or set out a timetable for his departure from discontented backbenchers, who numbered 51 by Monday evening."

"Catherine West had previously said she would challenge Mr Starmer 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 after a speech in which Mr Starmer said he would not "walk away", the former Foreign Office minister said she would now canvass support within the party for the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his resignation by September."

""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.""

Several junior government members resigned and urged the Prime Minister to resign. Tom Rutland, a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the environment secretary, stood down. Joe Morris, a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Health Secretary, also quit and called for resignation. The Prime Minister attempted to address criticism with a promise to prove doubters wrong, after a former minister withdrew threats of an imminent leadership challenge. Demands continued for him to quit or set a timetable for departure, with 51 backbench MPs calling for him to go by Monday evening. Catherine West said she would seek support for a resignation timetable by September after concluding the Prime Minister’s speech was too late.

Read at Irish Independent