Who has resigned and who has called for Keir Starmer to quit as PM fights for survival

The Prime Minister is facing calls for him to stand down

Four Government aides have resigned and more than 60 backbench MPs have called on the Prime Minister to quit following Labour’s heavy defeats in the local elections.

Below is a list of Labour officials who have called for Sir Keir Starmer to go or given up their position in Government:

Joe Morris

A parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Mr Morris was among the first to resign their position, calling on Sir Keir to set out a “swift timetable” to step aside. In a message posted on social media, the MP for Hexham, Northumberland, wrote: “The message from last week’s elections was clear: the Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the public.”

He added: “It is in the best interests of the country and the party that the Prime Minister sets out a swift timetable to ensure that a new leader is in place to regain the confidence of the public and to ensure that the government can deliver on the commitments it has made.”

Mr Streeting has widely been seen as a potential successor to the Prime Minister – with his allies pointing to results in his local authority, Redbridge, to show that he can retain the Westminster seat he holds with a majority of just 528.

Tom Rutland

Mr Rutland resigned as PPS to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, saying the Prime Minister had “lost authority” and “will not be able to regain it”.

In his statement posted on social media, the MP for East Worthing and Shoreham said: “It is with regret that I believe the Prime Minister should now set out a timetable for his departure and for a new leader to be chosen to lead the Labour Party and the country.”

Mr Rutland added: “It is clear to me that the Prime Minister has lost authority not just within the Parliamentary Labour Party but across the country and that he will not be able to regain it.”

Melanie Ward

The MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy in Scotland, Ms Ward resigned from her position as PPS to Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy – saying Sir Keir had “lost the confidence of the public”.

In a statement on X, Ms Ward said: “So many of my constituents told me that they could not vote Labour as long as Keir Starmer remains Prime Minister.”

She added: “Keir Starmer did important work to change the Labour Party, and governing in a time like this will never be easy.“But the message from last week’s elections was clear; the Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the public”. Mr Lammy previously rallied around the Prime Minister to defend his premiership, saying his “mandate” must be delivered.

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Naushabah Khan

Ms Khan, the MP for Gillingham and Rainham, resigned from her position as PPS to the Cabinet Office – calling for “new leadership”.In a statement on X, Ms Khan said: “The message from last week’s elections was clear: the Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the public.”

She added: “We need a clear change of direction now and no game playing. A Labour Government can and will rise to meet the moment if we act now.

“I am calling for new leadership, so that we can rebuild trust and deliver the better future that the British people voted for.”

Catherine West

Ms West previously said she would challenge Sir Keir for the party leadership as early as Monday afternoon, in an attempt to force the Cabinet to put forward a replacement as prime minister.

The MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet withdrew threats to imminently launch a leadership challenge ahead of the Prime Minister’s speech on Monday, but went on to write a letter urging him to step aside that was signed by 80 MPs, PA understands. Backbench MPs

A growing number of backbench MPs have called for Sir Keir to resign as Prime Minister, including Richard Burgon, John McDonnell and Sally Jameson, an aide to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Ms Jameson, MP for Doncaster Central, said Sir Keir “is a man of deep integrity” but said she now feels he should “set out a clear timetable for his departure in September or shortly after”.

More than 60 backbench MPs had publicly called for the Prime Minister to resign by Monday evening.