Pressure is mounting on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign, with over 50 Labour MPs publicly calling for him to step down after a devastating defeat in local and regional elections.
Starmer, 63, came to power in July 2024 after a landslide victory. But his tenure has been plagued by policy missteps, a scandal over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador, and failure to spur economic growth. Last week, voters punished Labour, with the hard-right Reform UK and left-wing Greens making huge gains. Labour also lost control of the Welsh parliament for the first time since 1999.
In a speech Monday, Starmer acknowledged the doubters but vowed to prove them wrong, promising bolder action on growth, European ties, and energy. He also called Brexit a failure and labeled Reform UK leader Nigel Farage a "chancer."
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner are seen as potential challengers. No clear successor has emerged, and the next general election is not expected until 2029.