All the Labour MPs calling for Keir Starmer to stop together with former ministers and senior MPs

On May 11, 2026

Pressure is piling on Keir Starmer as several backbenchers said they were unconvinced by his make-or-break speech to save his leadership – with former minister Catherine West urging MPs to sign her call for him to go

16:05, 11 May 2026Updated 16:45, 11 May 2026

Keir Starmer speech in full

Dozens of Labour MPs have now publicly called for Keir Starmer to quit as pressure mounts on the PM.

Mr Starmer delivered a make-or-break speech on Monday morning vowing to do better – but not all backbenchers are convinced. The Prime Minister faces a perilous battle to get his MPs back onside as his allies try to hose down the threat of a rebellion.

On Monday afternoon, following his speech, former Foreign Office minister Catherine West called on MPs to support her call for Mr Starmer to step down. She said the PM’s pledges were “too little, too late”.

In recent days No10 has been rocked by high-profile MPs and allies of the PM demanding a change of leadership. These included former Cabinet Office minister Josh Simons – who used to head pro-Starmer think-tank Labour Together. He said the party leader had “lost the country” and urged him to set out a timetable for his departure.

And Chris Curtis, who leads the Labour Growth Group, said he did not believe the PM had put forward a plan with the change the country needs. Veteran MP Clive Betts, who has been an MP for over three decades, has also called for change.

Others, including former Cabinet member Louise Haigh have said the PM will have to make way if he does not improve – but have stopped short of saying he must go. And Labour heavyweight Debbie Abrahams has said Mr Starmer must step aside if things do not improve by the end of the year.

All eyes are on Angela Rayner – who gave a cutting verdict on how Labour is performing – and Wes Streeting, who are both tipped to be lining up leadership bids. Mr Streeting is understood to have told No10 he has a plan if the PM’s control falls apart, but does not plan to challenge him.

Anyone planning to stand against Mr Starmer would need to get the backing of 81 Labour MPs. Many are hoping to delay any moves against Mr Starmer so that Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham can get a chance to return to Parliament.

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But Business Secretary Peter Kyle indicated that ministers would continue to oppose any bid by Mr Burnham to stand in a by-election.

Full list

David Baines, MP for St Helens North. The 2024 intake MP called for Mr Starmer to resign, saying: “When you’re the leader, the buck stops with you.”
Paula Barker, MP for Liverpool Wavertree. The MP, who serves on the Standards Committee and has been an MP for nearly seven years, suggested Mr Starmer needed to go within a set time. She said: “We need to agree a clear timetable for change and deliver an orderly transition through an open and transparent contest.”
Apsana Begum, MP for Poplar and Limehouse. The long-time Starmer critic said after the local elections: “To avert the ultimate disaster of a Reform Government, there needs to be a superspeed change, in both leadership and policy.”
Clive Betts, MP for Sheffield South East. The experienced MP – who was first elected more than 30 years ago in 1992 – called for the PM to go “with a heavy heart”. He said voters had repeatedly told him: “We might vote Labour, we’ve always voted Labour, we might vote Labour again but not while Keir is the leader.”
Olivia Blake, MP for Sheffield Hallam. The MP saw Labour lose control of Sheffield City Council at last week’s local elections, with gains for the Greens and Reform. After the results, she said the PM “needs to think about his position”.
Jonathan Brash, MP for Hartlepool. The MP was one of the first to call on the PM to set out a “timetable for his departure” after his wife was among the councillors to lose their seats in the local elections. He said: “The reality is that we need change at the top of the Labour Party.”
Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East. An outspoken critic of Mr Starmer – who was suspended for six months last year after rebelling over the two-child benefit limit – said: “Keir must go. But we only get one chance to get this right. So he should set a timetable to stand aside, with a new leader in place by the ends of the year.”
Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool West Derby. The MP of nearly seven years has called for the PM to “set out a timetable for his departure” – but stopped short of backing Catherine West’s bid. He said a leadership contest must not be “rushed” or “manipulated”.
Markus Campbell-Savours, MP for Penrith and Solway. After Mr Starmer’s make-or-break speech on May 11, the 2024 intake MP said: “His leadership is not working, and it is with genuine regret that I say so. His position is now untenable.”
Chris Curtis, MP for Milton Keynes North. After the PM’s speech on May 11, the influential MP – who is head of the Labour growth group – said: “I don’t think we saw a plan from the Prime Minister this morning in order to implement the kind of change that this country needs, and I therefore think it’s time for us to look for new leadership.”
Anna Dixon, MP for Shipley. The MP, who was elected 2024, said on social media: “I am calling on the Prime Minister to set out a clear timetable for a change of leadership. The PM is a good man who only wants the best for our country, but I believe it is time for him to step down in an orderly fashion.”
Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent West. The veteran MP – who was first elected in 1997 and served as a junior minister under Tony Blair – called on the PM to step down as Labour leader after the local election losses. He said: “Leadership brings with it responsibilities, and this defeat is Keir Starmer’s responsibility – and that’s why I think he should accept that responsibility and he should stand aside.”
Paulette Hamilton, MP for Birmingham Erdington. The MP of four years – whose local council was lost by Labour last week – said: “The public have made it clear that they do not wish to hear further talk of a “reset” from Sir Keir Starmer. Confidence is lost. Voters have stopped listening. Now, an orderly transition must follow, and change must come from the top.”
Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East. After Labour candidates lost their seats in his area in the local elections, he wrote on social media: “It is clear Keir Starmer has fought his last election as Labour leader, and I think he will know that too. The party should now set out a timetable for an orderly transition to a new leader by the end of the year.
Terry Jermy, MP for South West Norfolk. The 2024 intake MP, who posted a statement after the “disappointing” local election results, said: “Keir Starmer, as Leader of our Party, needs to consider whether he is the right person to lead our party.”
Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool Riverside. The Starmer critic, who was elected in 2019, wrote on social media after the local elections that Labour was facing an “existential moment”. She added: “Keir Starmer has now fought his last election as leader. We need a clear timetable for a smooth and orderly transition this year.”
Alan Gemmell. MP for Central Ayrshire. The 2024 intake MP – who saw Labour suffer huge blows in last week’s Holyrood elections – called for the PM to go after his speech on May 11. “I listened to the Prime Minister today. Sadly I don’t believe he can lead us to into, and win, the next election therefore he must now set a date for his departure.”
Ian Lavery, MP for Blyth and Ashington. He left no one in doubt about his position, telling the BBC’s World at One: “Keir Hardie started the Labour Party… It could be another Keir – Keir Starmer – that could end the party forever.” Mr Lavery said Labour needs a new leader and a new political programme.
Brian Leishman, MP for Alloa and Grangemouth. Mr Leishman, who became an MP in 2024, first called for Mr Starmer to step down in February. He said: “He should do the right thing for the party and the country and resign.”
Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South since 2015. He said last week: “A timetable for his departure is now necessary. The longer this is delayed, the greater the damage to the party and the country.”
Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central. The left-winger – who last year had the whip suspended for opposing welfare reforms – said: “While the Prime Minister cannot continue, it would be wrong to launch an immediate leadership challenge, before understanding the qualities needed to lead our party.”
Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East. Mr McDonald posted: “We need a change of leader tied to change of policy – for a radical economic vision, with better incomes and higher living standards.”
Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North. The former Education minister – who was sacked by the PM in September and has been an MP for over 15 years – shared a statement on X today stating: “It’s become clear that it’s time for a new leader to take us to the finish line of this term and onto the next.”
Navendu Mishra, MP for Stockport. Mr Mishra told the BBC’s Today programme that the PM should “set out a timetable for an orderly transition” of leader.
Abtisam Mohamed, MP for Sheffield Central. In a social media post, Ms Mohamed wrote: “The Prime Minister should now agree a clear transition and timeline for new leadership can do that. I came into politics to fight for real change and that hasn’t changed, but I won’t follow blindly.”
Luke Myer, MP for Middlesborough South and East Cleveland. Following the PM’s speech, Mr Myer said: “I think history will see him as a decent man, but we have to be honest that his leadership is not working. A change is needed.”
Connor Naismith, MP for Crewe and Nantwich. Mr Naismith called for Mr Starmer to step down, posting on X: ” In the wake of these catastrophic local elections results, with regret, it is clear to me that we need new leadership. Leadership which is capable of bringing together a broad coalition of voters to stop the Thatcherite politics of Reform UK.”
Simon Opher, MP for Stroud. Dr Opher, who was elected in 2024, told Sky News: “Keir is a decent guy, but I just think he’s not the right leader for the next election. And if we go into the next election with him, we are going to get slaughtered.”
Kate Osborne, MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East. Ms Osborne said that the PM needs to go, blaming him for the election results last week. She posted on X: “Keir needs to resign.”
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill. Ms Ribeiro-Addy accused the PM of not having a credible plan, adding: He must now set out a timetable for departure. But the process to replace him cannot be a coronation. Our next leader must be chosen in a real democratic contest. Otherwise we risk ending up right back where we started.”
Euan Stainbank, MP for Falkirk. The Scottish MP called for the PM to go following the poor election results in Holyrood. He wrote: “The Prime Minister must set out a process for his departure and we must quickly reflect on the strategy and leadership north and south of the border which enabled this fifth SNP term.”
Josh Simons. MP for Makerfield. Mr Simons, former head of the Starmer-supporting Labour Together think-tank, said the PM had “lost the country”. Former justice minister Mr Simons wrote: “Putting the people I represent and the country I love first, I do not believe the Prime Minister can rise to this moment. He has lost the country. He should take control of the situation by overseeing an orderly transition to a new Prime Minister.”
David Smith, MP for North Northumberland. Following Mr Starmer’s speech, Mr Smith said the Government cannot continue as it is. He wrote: “I therefore believe that now is the time for the Prime Minister to set a clear timetable for his departure.”
Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Middleton South. Mr Stringer – who has previously called for the PM to quit – told Talk TV: “I don’t think he can fight the next election if the Labour Party wants to survive.”
Jon Trickett, MP for Normanton and Hemsworth. As results were coming through on Friday, Mr Trickett said: “We don’t yet have the full picture, but it is clear that people want a change in direction and leadership. The Labour Party must listen and act accordingly.”
Tony Vaughan, MP for Folkeston and Hythe. Mr Vaughan, a vocal critic of the Government’s migration shake-up, posted on X: “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. 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.”
Catherine West, MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet. The face of the rebellion, on Saturday Ms West called on Cabinet members to topple the PM – and threatened to launch a leadership bid herself. In an email sent to all Labour MPs on Monday, the former foreign office minister wrote: “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. I am hereby giving notice to No10 that I am collecting names of Labour MPs to call on the Prime Minister to set a timetable for the election of a new leader in September.”
Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East. Ms Whittome criticised the Government for doubling down on “Reform-lite” policies. The left-winger said: “We did not secure a historic majority in 2024 to be tepid in government, to punish the most vulnerable or to mimic our opponents. From housing to our hollowed-out public services, the country faces interlocking crises that demand bold policies and a progressive government with the courage to deliver them. With this in mind, I believe the Prime Minister should announce a timetable for his departure.”
Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood. The 2024 intake MP called on the PM to set out a “timetable for leaving office” after his speech on May 11. She said “the speech did not suggest anything close to the scale of change needed to rebuild communities like mine”, adding: “We must have a new leader in place well in advance of next year’s local elections.”
Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwyn. Ms Jones told BBC Radio Wales: “I think we need him to set out the timetable for when he is going to stand down – not yet, not in a rush, not in a hasty way. He’s done a brilliant job, he’s been there six years, he’s got us in, after one term in the wilderness, he’s got us a massive majority.”
Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View. The 2024 intake MP – who suffered painful losses to Reform UK in last week’s local elections – said: “It is clear now that to deliver on our promise of change and to secure Britain’s future, we must look to a new leader.”
Paul Davies, MP for Colne Valley. Elected in 2024, he said he does not believe the PM is the person “who is able to rebuilt trust with our citizens”. He posted on social media: “So regrettably I feel there is no alternative but to ask the Prime Minister to do the right thing for the country and arrange for an orderly hand over of his role once his replacement has been duly selected.”