Starmer faces deepening revolt as 78 Labour MPs call for resignation

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing the biggest political crisis of his premiership after 78 Labour MPs publicly called on him to resign or announce a timetable for his departure, amid growing unrest within the governing Labour Party.

The rebellion, which now involves nearly 20 per cent of Labour’s 403 MPs, intensified following the resignation of junior minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who openly urged Starmer to step aside in a strongly-worded resignation letter.

Fahnbulleh, who served as Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, accused the Prime Minister of failing to govern with sufficient “vision, pace and ambition” and said controversial policies had severely damaged public confidence in the government.

“Mistakes such as the winter fuel payment and cuts to the support provided to disabled people have left too many of my constituents doubting our mission,” she wrote.

“The public does not believe that you can lead this change and nor do I.”

Her resignation marks the first ministerial departure directly linked to the growing leadership crisis engulfing the Labour government.

The mounting revolt follows Labour’s disastrous local election performances across England, Scotland and Wales, where the party reportedly lost hundreds of council seats while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK made major gains. The election setback exposed widening frustration among voters over Labour’s economic policies and cost-of-living measures.

At the centre of the backlash is the controversial decision by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to restrict Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners, a policy many Labour MPs believe alienated traditional supporters and older voters.

The policy, introduced shortly after Labour came to power, removed the allowance from millions of pensioners who were previously entitled to the payment, sparking criticism from charities, unions and even Labour backbenchers.

Further anger was generated by planned reductions in disability support and concerns that the government had drifted away from core Labour values.

Labour MP Paulette Hamilton intensified pressure on Tuesday, accusing Starmer of failing to listen to colleagues or the public.

“He doesn’t listen, that’s why the public has stopped listening to us,” Hamilton told the BBC, describing the Prime Minister as “a stubborn man that just isn’t listening.”

She warned that the crisis “won’t be pretty” for Starmer and said the turmoil was damaging Britain’s image internationally.

Despite the growing rebellion, Starmer has refused to resign. During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, he reportedly insisted that no formal leadership challenge had yet been triggered and vowed to continue leading the government.

Senior Labour figures including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper are reported to have privately discussed transition options with the Prime Minister as pressure mounts within the party.

Speculation is also growing around possible successors, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham frequently mentioned as potential contenders should a leadership contest begin.

The political uncertainty has already unsettled financial markets, with reports indicating that UK government borrowing costs have risen amid fears of instability at the heart of government.

Although some senior ministers continue to defend Starmer, critics within Labour argue that the party risks losing further public trust if it fails to respond decisively to the growing dissatisfaction among voters.