More than 100 members of parliament from the UK’s ruling Labour Party have issued a joint statement in support of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. They declared that it is “not the time for a leadership contest” and urged fellow party members to focus on the work of government and restoring voter confidence.
Between 103 and 112 MPs have signed the statement, including parliamentary private secretaries. The document was drafted by backbench MPs and emphasises the need for party unity following a heavy defeat in local elections across England, Wales and Scotland last week.
“We must focus on winning back people’s trust. This is not the time for a leadership contest,” the statement reads.
The message is a direct response to growing criticism within the party. Previously, around 80 Labour MPs had in various forms called on Starmer to resign. Nevertheless, the number of signatories to the letter of support for the Prime Minister has now exceeded the number of his critics.
Starmer himself told cabinet members the previous day that he has no intention of stepping down, as the formal procedure for triggering a leadership challenge has not yet been initiated. “The country expects us to govern,” he stressed.
The situation within the Labour Party remains tense. The poor performance in the local elections — where the party lost hundreds of seats — alongside the rising popularity of Reform UK and the Conservatives, has intensified talk of a possible leadership change. However, Starmer’s supporters argue that internal infighting will only deepen the party’s problems and distract from addressing key priorities: the economy, migration, and rebuilding public trust.