LONDON: Keir Starmer on Tuesday rejected growing calls for his resignation, telling cabinet ministers that he would “get on with governing” despite what he described as a “destabilising” 48 hours following a heavy election setback.
Speaking during a meeting with his cabinet team, Starmer — who has been prime minister for less than two years — acknowledged responsibility for one of the Labour Party’s worst election defeats. However, he stressed that no official move had been made to trigger a leadership contest within the party.
“The past 48 hours have been destabilising for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families,” Starmer told ministers, according to his Downing Street office.
“The country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a Cabinet,” he added.
Following Starmer’s remarks, British government bonds recovered slightly, although they remained firmly in negative territory for the day.
Despite the prime minister’s defiant stance, many within the Labour Party appeared increasingly uneasy about his leadership.
On Tuesday, a junior minister resigned from the government, while several ministerial aides also stepped down from their positions.
More than 80 Labour lawmakers have publicly urged Starmer to announce a timetable for his resignation so the party could organise a smooth leadership transition and appoint a new leader in an orderly manner.
A day earlier, Starmer had attempted to strengthen his position by promising to act more boldly and urgently to address Britain’s growing challenges.
He also warned that the British public would never forgive the centre-left Labour Party if it became embroiled in a leadership struggle only two years after securing a massive parliamentary majority that was expected to end the political instability that followed Britain’s vote to leave the European Union a decade ago.