UK’s Starmer to ‘get on with governing’, defies calls to quit

AdvertisementBritainWorldEuropeUK’s Starmer to ‘get on with governing’, defies calls to quit

At a meeting of his cabinet, there was no official move to trigger a leadership contest

3-MIN READ3-MIN Listen

ReutersPublished: 6:51pm, 12 May 2026British Prime ⁠Minister Keir Starmer defied calls to resign on Tuesday, telling ministers he would “get on with governing” despite a “destabilising” 48 hours of growing calls to set out a timetable for his departure after a drubbing in local elections.

At a meeting of his cabinet, Starmer, in the top job for less than two years, repeated that, while he took responsibility for one of his Labour Party’s worst election defeats, there had been no official move to trigger a leadership contest. Four ministers expressed their support for ‌him.

It was the latest pledge from Starmer to press on with a premiership that has been dogged by scandal and policy U-turns since he won a large majority at a national election in 2024. On Monday, he promised to be bolder in tackling the problems besetting Britain to try to shore up his political future.

Advertisement

In a nod to an increase in borrowing costs on the markets over fears of another bout of political instability in Britain, Starmer said the “past 48 hours have been destabilising for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families”.

“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered,” Starmer told his cabinet, according to his Downing Street office.

Advertisement

“The ⁠country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a cabinet.”

AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x