Seventy MPs now calling for Prime Minister to quit or set departure timetable after disastrous election losses

SIR Keir Starmer’s premiership was hanging by a thread on Monday night as a growing rebellion inside Labour threatened to spiral into a full leadership crisis just hours after his major “reset” speech.

The Prime Minister had attempted to relaunch his government with a high-stakes address in London following Labour’s disastrous election results across the UK.

But instead of calming unrest inside the party, pressure on Starmer intensified dramatically throughout the day.

By Monday evening, the BBC reported that 70 Labour MPs had now publicly called for Starmer either to resign immediately or set out a timetable for his departure.

The number rose steadily throughout the afternoon and evening following the speech, with several ministerial aides resigning from government positions and openly declaring they had lost confidence in the Prime Minister.

Leadership crisis deepens

Starmer used the speech to admit Labour had “made mistakes” and acknowledged that the election results had been “tough, very tough”.

He insisted he would not resign and pledged to fight any leadership challenge.

The Prime Minister said: “I know I have my doubters, and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.”

Asked directly whether he would stand aside, Starmer replied: “I’m not going to walk away.”

The speech had been billed as a make-or-break moment for his premiership, with growing numbers of Labour MPs openly questioning whether he could recover politically after the party’s heavy losses.

Instead, the situation appeared to worsen.

BBC political correspondents described the Prime Minister as being in a “very vulnerable” position, with some MPs now openly discussing whether his premiership is becoming unsustainable.

Government aides quit

The most damaging developments came later in the day as parliamentary private secretaries — junior government aides often seen as future ministers — began resigning.

Tom Rutland became the first government aide to quit, saying he no longer had faith in Starmer’s leadership and calling on the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for departure.

Joe Morris, parliamentary private secretary to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, also resigned, saying Starmer no longer had “the trust or confidence of the public”.

Naushabah Khan later resigned as parliamentary private secretary to the Cabinet Office while calling for “new leadership”.

Melanie Ward also quit her role as parliamentary private secretary to Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Several MPs warned privately that more resignations could follow if Starmer refuses to stand down.

The growing revolt now appears to span multiple factions within Labour, including MPs linked both to the left of the party and to senior figures on the party’s more centrist wing.

Three key pledges

Earlier in the day, Starmer had attempted to reset his leadership by announcing a series of major policy pledges.

The Prime Minister promised a closer relationship with Europe, saying the next EU summit would mark a “new direction for Britain” and place the country “at the heart of Europe” once again on trade, defence and economic cooperation.

He also announced plans for a major youth opportunity scheme allowing young people to work, study and live in Europe more easily.

Starmer pledged further investment in apprenticeships, technical colleges and special educational needs provision, alongside a guarantee that every young person struggling to find work would receive a job, training place or work placement.

The biggest announcement centred on steel.

Starmer confirmed legislation would be introduced this week to allow the government to take full ownership of British Steel, subject to a public interest test.

The move follows government intervention to protect the Scunthorpe steelworks after concerns over its Chinese owner Jingye.

Wales criticism grows

In Wales, however, the speech triggered immediate criticism.

Opponents accused Starmer of failing to address Welsh Labour’s historic collapse in last week’s Senedd election and pointed out that Wales was barely mentioned during the speech itself.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson David Chadwick MP accused Labour of becoming “out of touch” with Welsh communities.

He said the Prime Minister had failed to offer “the fresh thinking people are crying out for”.

The British Steel announcement also reignited anger over the handling of the Tata Steel crisis at Port Talbot.

Critics contrasted the move to potentially nationalise British Steel in Scunthorpe with the lack of full government intervention for Port Talbot workers and communities during the closure of the blast furnaces.

The issue is likely to become increasingly politically sensitive in Wales, particularly following Labour’s severe election losses.

Mounting danger

Despite the growing revolt, senior Labour figures continued rallying behind the Prime Minister on Monday evening.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the “quiet majority” of Labour MPs still supported Starmer and warned against creating a “revolving door of leaders”.

Labour chair Anna Turley also publicly backed the Prime Minister, saying she was “proud” of his leadership.

But BBC political editors reported that the pressure on Starmer was now intensifying by the hour.

Some MPs are believed to be pushing for a rapid leadership contest, while others are reportedly trying to buy time for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to return to Westminster and potentially contest the leadership.

Other names being discussed include Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

The Prime Minister insisted during the speech that Labour had to prevent Britain going down what he described as a “dark path” and warned against “division” and “grievance politics”.

But by Monday night, the biggest political battle appeared to be inside Labour itself.

For Starmer, the speech was meant to draw a line under Labour’s election disaster.

Instead, it may have accelerated the crisis threatening to end his premiership.

Prime Minister pledges EU reset, British Steel nationalisation and youth jobs guarantee — but critics say Wales was left out

SIR KEIR Starmer has been accused of ignoring Wales in a major “reset” speech aimed at saving his premiership after Labour’s disastrous election results.

The Prime Minister used the speech on Monday (May 11) to admit that mistakes had been made and to promise a new direction for Britain.

He said Labour’s election losses had been “tough, very tough”, but insisted he would not walk away from the job and would fight any attempt to remove him as party leader.

But while the speech was billed as a major attempt to relaunch his government, Welsh opponents said it failed to address the political earthquake which has just taken place in Wales.

Welsh Labour is still reeling from last week’s Senedd election, which saw the party suffer a historic collapse after decades of dominance in Welsh politics.

Despite that, critics said Wales was not directly mentioned in the Prime Minister’s speech.

Lib Dem criticism

Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson David Chadwick MP said the omission showed how out of touch Labour had become with Welsh communities.

He said: “Keir Starmer’s speech today showed just how out of touch Labour has become with communities in Wales.

“Despite years of Labour failure in Cardiff Bay and last week’s election results, the Prime Minister did not even mention Wales, let alone offer the fresh thinking people are crying out for.

“To make matters worse, Labour has rubbed salt in the wounds of communities like Port Talbot by announcing a further nationalisation of British Steel in Scunthorpe after refusing to do the same for workers and families in South Wales.

“The Liberal Democrats will continue using our 72 MPs in Westminster to stand up for Wales and fight for the fair deal our communities deserve.”

Three key pledges

Starmer’s speech centred on three main pledges.

The first was a promise to rebuild Britain’s relationship with the European Union.

The Prime Minister said the UK would set a “new direction for Britain” at the next EU summit, putting the country “at the heart of Europe” on the economy, trade and defence.

He also announced plans for an “ambitious” youth experience scheme, allowing young people to work, study and live in Europe as part of a renewed relationship with the EU.

Starmer said the government would also go further on apprenticeships, technical excellence colleges and special educational needs, with a guarantee that every young person struggling to find work would be offered a job, training or work placement.

The third major pledge was on British Steel.

Starmer said legislation would be brought forward this week to give the government the power to take full ownership of British Steel, subject to a public interest test.

He said the move was needed to protect what he described as an “ultimate sovereign capability” and to support industrial renewal.

Steel row reignited

The British Steel announcement is likely to be one of the most politically sensitive parts of the speech in Wales.

The UK Government took control of British Steel’s Scunthorpe steelworks from Chinese owners Jingye last year, following fears over the future of the site.

Starmer has now gone further, saying ministers will seek powers for full public ownership.

But in South Wales, the decision has revived anger over the handling of Tata Steel in Port Talbot.

Thousands of jobs were put at risk during the transition away from blast furnace steelmaking, with unions and opposition parties repeatedly calling for stronger government intervention.

Critics say Port Talbot workers and their families were not offered the same level of protection now being proposed for Scunthorpe.

That contrast is now being used by Labour’s opponents as evidence that Wales has again been treated as an afterthought by Westminster.

Leadership pressure

The speech came as Starmer faced growing pressure from within his own party after Labour’s poor election performance.

He admitted the results had been painful and said he understood that people were frustrated with him.

Starmer said: “I know I have my doubters, and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.”

Asked whether he would fight a leadership contest, Starmer said he was “not going to walk away”.

He also warned that Britain was facing “dangerous opponents” and said Labour had to offer hope and optimism rather than allow the country to go down what he described as a “dark path”.

The Prime Minister argued that Labour had made mistakes but had got the “big political choices” right, pointing to the economy, public services and foreign policy.

However, early reaction from within Labour suggested the speech may not have been enough to calm unrest.

Some Labour figures were reported to have felt the speech lacked detail on the cost of living, immigration and defence, while others said it did not amount to the transformational reset some MPs had wanted.

Welsh problem remains

For Wales, the political problem is particularly acute.

Labour’s dominance in Welsh politics has been shattered, with Plaid Cymru now the largest party in the Senedd and Reform UK making major gains.

The result has left Labour searching for a new direction at both Cardiff Bay and Westminster level.

Starmer’s speech was intended to show that he understands the scale of the challenge facing his government.

But for Welsh critics, the failure to directly address Wales after such a dramatic election result will only deepen concerns that Labour’s Westminster leadership has not yet grasped the scale of the change taking place here.

The row also gives the Liberal Democrats an opportunity to position themselves as a pro-Wales voice at Westminster, particularly in rural and mid-Wales areas where the party has been seeking to rebuild.

For Starmer, the speech was designed as a moment of renewal.

In Wales, his opponents say it has instead become another example of Labour failing to listen.

Senior Conservative MS says he has the experience and procedural knowledge needed for the role

PAUL DAVIES has confirmed that he will put his name forward to become the next Llywydd of the Senedd following growing speculation after the Welsh election.

The former leader of the Welsh Conservatives and long-serving Member of the Senedd said he had decided to stand after discussions with colleagues and encouragement from others.

In a statement issued on Sunday (May 10), Davies said he believed he had the experience needed to champion the Welsh Parliament and oversee proceedings fairly.

He said: “There has been much speculation since the election about who will take on the role of the next Llywydd in the Senedd.

“I want make it clear that, after consultation with colleagues and having been urged to do so by others, I will be putting my name forward to be the next Presiding Officer.

“I have the experience to champion the Welsh Parliament and have a clear understanding of its Standing Orders and procedures.

“As the Temporary Presiding Officer in the previous Senedd, and as a former Committee Chair and Business Manager in the Welsh Parliament, I have the necessary skills to take on this important role.”

The role of Llywydd is one of the most senior positions in the Senedd, with responsibility for chairing debates, maintaining order in the chamber and ensuring parliamentary rules are followed.

Davies, who represents Ceredigion Penfro, has been a prominent figure in Welsh politics for many years and previously served as leader of the Welsh Conservatives.

Sam Kurtz disappointment

Davies’ announcement also comes against the backdrop of disappointment within Welsh Conservative circles after Sam Kurtz failed to win a seat.

Kurtz, the former Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MS, had been placed second on the Conservative list in Ceredigion Penfro behind Davies.

That decision was controversial locally, with many party supporters believing Kurtz had built a stronger personal following in Pembrokeshire and was one of the party’s most visible and energetic campaigners in west Wales.

His failure to return to the Senedd is likely to be seen as one of the most significant Conservative casualties of the new electoral system, particularly given his profile in rural affairs, farming, tourism and local campaigning.

There is already speculation about Kurtz’s next move, including rumours that he could seek to stand for Parliament in the future.

However, speaking to The Herald at the declaration, Kurtz was tight-lipped about his plans and even suggested he may return to journalism.

Before entering politics, Kurtz worked in local journalism, including at The Pembrokeshire Herald and the Western Telegraph.

Davies said he was saddened that Kurtz had not been returned, describing him as a hard-working colleague who had given strong service to Pembrokeshire and west Wales.

The announcement comes as parties continue discussions following the historic 2026 Senedd election, which resulted in no overall majority and a dramatically reshaped Welsh political landscape.