Birmingham and Black Country Labour MPs demand Keir Starmer's resignation amid party turmoil
More than 80 Labour MPs, including notable Birmingham and Black Country figures, call for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down amid recent council election losses.
A growing number of Labour MPs, including figures from Birmingham and the Black Country, are calling for Keir Starmer's resignation, citing loss of confidence among voters. This is in light of a disastrous local council election result for the Labour Party.
Key highlights from last week’s council elections had included, losing control of Birmingham City Council after 14 years in power. Significantly, Labour lost the Black Country heartland of Sandwell after a monumental 47-year-old stint, ushering the way for a new Reform-led council.
Country-wide more than 80 Labour MPs have called for Keir Starmer to quit his role expeditiously as the Prime Minister. These MPs range from prolific ministers such as Jess Phillips as well as Black Country MPs such as Cat Eccles.
Just this afternoon well-known Birmingham MP Jess Phillips resigned as the government’s safeguarding minister. In her departure, Jess Phillips said that Keir Starmer was a “good man” but that is no longer “enough” for his role as the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Edgbaston MP Preet Gill exclusively told the Express & Star that she’s sticking by the Prime Minister. In an email to the Express & Star, Preet Gill said that she feels Keir Starmer should stay in post to deliver on the mandate that the British people gave him 18 months ago.
She said in a statement to the Express & Star: “The Prime Minister takes responsibility for the local election results that is what leadership means. But leadership also means staying the course and delivering on the mandate the British people gave this government 18 months ago. Constant internal turmoil and Westminster psychodrama will not help a single family with the cost of living, housing, public services or opportunity.”
On the other hand, yesterday, Birmingham’s Erdington MP Paulette Hamilton posted on X that she felt “confidence” was lost and has called for Keir Starmer to leave his role as the Prime Minister.
She posted: “The public have made it clear that they do not wish to hear further talk of a “reset” from Sir Keir Starmer. Confidence is lost. Voters have stopped listening. Now, an orderly transition must follow, and change must come from the top.”
Tahir Ali, Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green & Moseley has also said in a social media post, that the Labour Party is in “crisis” and wants Starmer to step aside for “real change”.
He posted: “The recent election results show a party in crisis. We’ve drifted away from our core values, picking the wrong battles and targeting the wrong people. It is clear the current leadership needs a total change in direction. We can’t keep coasting without a real vision. It’s time to stop the excuses and take serious steps to get this party back on track. The first step is for Keir Starmer to step down. But that is only the first step, we need to make sure real change follows.”
Yesterday evening, Halesowen MP Alex Ballinger voiced his support a new leader of the Labour Party.
He said in an X post: “I support a transition to a new leader, one who will be bolder, and one who can better articulate how Labour is changing our country for the better.”
Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles has also called for Keir Starmer to step aside.
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