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Starmer tells cabinet leadership contest has not been triggered

politicsMay 12, 202618504

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his cabinet that the Labour Party's formal leadership challenge process has not been triggered and he will 'get on with governing.' His statement follows the resignation of the first government minister and more than 70 Labour MPs urging him to quit immediately or set a timetable for departure. Starmer said he will continue running the government to preserve stability while the party decides whether to open a formal leadership contest. The outcome matters because a leadership contest or prolonged internal revolt could destabilize the government ahead of key parliamentary votes and weaken Labour's position with voters.

Victoria Derbyshire
@vicderbyshire.bsky.social

Sir Keir Starmer tells his cabinet that he will 'get on with governing' and a leadership contest hasn’t been triggered

15545d ago
wodman.bsky.social26

They need to keep correcting the mess left by subsequent Governments. The Press is not going to stop going for them, so just power through till the improvements are there for everyone to see.

Claire17

Good. Now that we've got that cleared up maybe Farage and his £5million/Clacton house and Polanski and his unpaid council tax could be given the same level of coverage. And yes I know, Starmer had glasses!

Ilikecaketoo (UK)16

Good. Now can the bloody media just calm down. Let the Govt get on with the job and stop the chaos.

Gourock Girl13

Do politicians realise that these leadership elections come across as self interest? They don’t want to lose their seat at the next election so start pfaffing around with this stuff instead of getting on with the job in hand. In an unstable world we need a stable government - whoever that may be.

Carl12

Chris Mason will be devastated.

David10

Can you tell Mason & co?

Ruth9

He’s right.. and as a Labour member all my life I’m delighted!

Joel Herron - Pica Pica Press9

How many prime ministers have we had since brexshit?

Get Me Zarniwoop8

Good. Hopefully that will steady the markets. bsky.app/profile/chad...

Tiny Trace7

Thank you for facts not gossip

Kev Woods5

This is reporting. Here are the facts. no opinion attached, just the facts. Ty @vicderbyshire.bsky.social

Arnab Dutt5

Of course he was going to stay and fight...he will take it to the party and if the Kings speech is radical...like joining a customs union with a view to re enter the EU single market...he might win.

carolechapman.bsky.social4

Pleased to hear that news.

Beach Boy4

Good. Yes I’ve been disappointed by Starmer and Reeves. But what we need is for them to do better. We do not need to waste time choosing a new leader, only to find the same problems continue to exist. Surely Labour MPs learned that lesson from the Tory turmoil?? Suggest MPs get on with the job.

Bobbie3

Wasn't David Dinsmore, a former editor of The Sun, recently appointed as the head of the Government Communications Service to overhaul the government's media strategy and improve how it connects with modern audiences. If anyone should resign today, it's Dismal Dinsmore

kenmunn.bsky.social3

The proponents of chaos are keen for the UK to have its seventh prime minister of the decade.

Pascal 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇫🇷3

But he could be forced to if 81 MPs agree on a named replacement. I think at last count they were 71 strong.

jimmbuzz.bsky.social2

‪ Starmer identified a Farage govt as a huge danger to the UK, but gave no sign that he was fit to prevent it. His announcement - a ban foreign agitators visiting far right events is just faffing around. If he really wants to keep Farage out all he has to do is bring in PR for the next election.

Fiona2

Well done Sir Keir . Put that in your backstabbing pipe and smoke it Streeting

jonquillucy.bsky.social2

So can the media just calm down and let him and the Govt get on with the job. I've stopped watching Newsnight because it just a continuation of the relentless bashing of this Govt. On the Radio 4 headlines this morning was a story about Zak Polanski so the BBC might have moved on 2 him for a while.

Pippa Crerar
@pippacrerar.bsky.social

NEW: Keir Starmer tells cabinet he’s staying put. “I take responsibility for these election results and I take responsibility for delivering the change we promised. “The past 48 hours have been destabilising for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families”.

7245d ago
Pippa Crerar44

“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered. “The country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a Cabinet.” A clear challenge to Wes Streeting to put up or shut up.

Yve13

And so he should. It is the Media who are pushing this and some of the 2024 MPs getting on the bandwagon

Bo Morris8

lol. I think Trumps war has had a bigger effect on the cost of living than anything Kier’s done.

Bo Morris8

Well done Kier. Another leader would just get the same treatment from the right wing media. Little point in change.

xdefector2000.bsky.social7

Nothing to see here - just media generated hysteria. The right wing media looking for a scalp as usual and looking to destabilise their opponents. If labour had an MP who was any better than SKS then I’m sure he would be leader by now.

johnboy20042006.bsky.social3

Probably the best example I have ever came across in terms of the so called Westminster bubble. How these politicians cannot see how despised Starmer is with the public is beyond me. The dislike is going to increase 10 fold as citizens of the country realise there is someone trespassing in number 10

Devon Recluse3

Good, glad he is fighting for his leadership.

Tracey3

I'm afraid Pippa your industry has become poison. This constant daily drip feed of negativity and talking about the PM leaving is destroying people's mental health. If farage gets in you've all had it. See America with trump.

SanguinePar3

Overly optimistic take - this whole thing flushes out people like Mahmood and Streeting, they depart, Starmer starts taking advice from better people, things start to improve, Labour starts being Labour again, Reform gets nowhere. It's a nice thought at least...

West Norfolk Design3

Good, dig in, ignore the stink in the wind, carry on fixing the roof!

Ian St James2

Well bugger me, it’s really quite amusing watching the contortions of the MSM (and its political commentators) as it struggles to accept its relentless anti-Starmer campaign is unlikely to bear fruit. No doubt it’ll keep trying having no care that changing PM would be a catastrophic for the country.

Cobie Cipher Triangulation Agency2

Via Beth Rigby's cabinet sources: “Keir said in Cabinet that he wouldn’t discuss the elections or his leadership, and that he will only speak to cabinet ministers about that individually. Then after the meeting he refused to see Cabinet ministers individually”

Markeye2

Probably the right choice given the lack of credible alternatives. But without radical rethinking on some key policies, the problem isn’t going away. Many of us are lifelong supporters and have lost faith in a party that simply doesn’t represent what we see as Labour values any more.

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