What is happening with Keir Starmer’s leadership: at-a-glance

# What is happening with Keir Starmer’s leadership: at-a-glance [Skip to content]( Advertisement [Watch Live]( []( Subscribe [Sign In]( * [Home]( * [News]( * [Sport]( * [Business]( * [Technology]( * [Health]( * [Culture]( * [Arts]( * [Travel]( * [Earth]( * [Audio]( * [Video]( * [Live]( * [Documentaries]( [Home]( News [Sport]( Business Technology [Health]( Culture Arts Travel Earth Audio Video Live Documentaries [Weather]( [Newsletters]( [Watch Live]( Advertisement # At a glance: Starmer fights to stay on as prime minister 40 minutes ago Share Save [Add as preferred on Google]( PA Media Sir Keir Starmer is fighting to stay on as prime minister, as he stares down calls from Labour critics for him to leave Downing Street. On Thursday, Wes Streeting resigned from the cabinet, leaving his post as health secretary - although he stopped short of launching a leadership bid. Earlier in the week four members of the government, including health minister - and Streeting ally - Zubir Ahmed resigned, whilst scores of Labour MPs are calling for Sir Keir to quit following a disastrous set of elections for the party last week. Here is a summary of what is happening. ## What's the latest? * Wes Streeting quits as health secretary, saying he has "lost confidence" in Sir Keir's leadership and that it is "now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election" * Streeting's camp insist he has the support of the 81 Labour MPs that are necessary to trigger a leadership contest, although in his resignation letter he calls for a "debate about what comes next" * Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson responds by saying Sir Keir has "cabinet behind him" and she advises colleagues to "pause, take a breath as a party and try and draw a line under all of this" * Labour MP John Simons is standing down and triggering a by-election to allow Andy Burnham to try to enter Parliament, saying the Greater Manchester mayor will "drive the change our country is crying out for" * Burnham confirmed he was requesting the permission of the NEC, Labour's ruling body, to stand in the Makerfield by-election * Chancellor Rachel Reeves echoes Sir Keir's warning that any Labour leadership contest would "plunge the country into chaos" * Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner says she has been cleared by HMRC of wrongdoing over her tax affairs * On Wednesday the King outlined the government's proposals for legislation in the coming months, in the King's Speech * The speech contained the outlines of 37 bills including proposals to introduce digital ID, nationalise British Steel and make changes to the NHS and police * At the start of the week, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was among a group of cabinet ministers urging Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure * No MP has yet launched a formal bid to challenge Sir Keir ## What's the mood in the party? * Nearly 90 Labour MPs have publicly urged Sir Keir to resign immediately or draw up an exit timetable * Four junior ministers - Jess Phillips, Zubir Ahmed, Alex Davies-Jones and Miatta Fahnbulleh - have resigned from the government * Six ministerial aides quit on Monday and have since been replaced * More than 150 MPs have come out in support of the PM or said it is not the right time for a leadership contest * Along with Streeting, former deputy PM Rayner is seen as a likely challenger to Sir Keir among Labour MPs * Burnham also has support - but would need to become an MP to stand for leader, requiring a more drawn-out contest ## How did we get here? * The revolt among MPs follows a disastrous set of elections for Labour last week, where it lost almost 1,500 councillors in local elections across England * It was also kicked out of power in Wales and slumped to its worst ever result at a Scottish Parliament election * The elections had been billed as a key test for Sir Keir's leadership amid dire poll ratings and the row over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, which has led some MPs to question his judgement ## [Keir Starmer latest: Follow live updates]( ## [How could Labour MPs force a leadership contest?]( ## [The potential challengers to Keir Starmer]( [Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter]( to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond. [Keir Starmer]( [Labour Party]( * * * Related ## [Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary]( ## [Watch: Streeting's resigned - what now?]( ## [How would a Labour leadership contest work?]( * * * More from the BBC [Just now ## Andy Burnham: 'King of the North' with eyes on the top job The Greater Manchester mayor is lining up a third attempt to be Labour leader - but must get back to Westminster first. 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