Sir Keir Starmer is facing escalating pressure from within his own party after Labour MP Luke Myer became the 49th MP to publicly call for him to step down, marking a significant escalation in an internal rebellion triggered by a string of poor electoral results.
The latest intervention adds to growing unrest on the Labour benches following the party’s heavy losses in recent local elections, which have prompted increasingly open criticism of the Prime Minister’s leadership, strategy and political direction.
Mr Myer’s decision to go public follows a series of similar calls from backbench MPs, many of whom argue that Labour is failing to connect with voters on key issues, including the cost of living, public services and immigration.
Myer said: “I listened carefully to the Prime Minister’s speech today. I think history will see him as a decent man, but we have to be honest that his leadership is not working. A change is needed.”
The mounting dissent has transformed what was initially private frustration into an organised challenge to Starmer’s authority, with pressure now building for a formal leadership contest.
Senior figures within the party are said to be closely monitoring the situation, as speculation intensifies over whether the threshold for triggering a leadership challenge could soon be reached.
The Prime Minister has so far resisted calls to resign, insisting he intends to continue in post and arguing that he has previously overcome internal scepticism to lead Labour to electoral success.
However, the scale of opposition now emerging from within his own parliamentary party represents one of the most serious tests of his leadership since entering Downing Street.
The crisis has been fuelled by concerns among MPs that Labour’s electoral setbacks signal deeper structural problems in its appeal to voters, particularly in traditional strongholds where support has eroded in favour of Reform UK and other parties.
While Downing Street has sought to project unity, the steady rise in public declarations against the Prime Minister suggests that internal discipline is weakening as pressure mounts.
With 49 MPs now openly calling for his resignation, attention in Westminster is increasingly focused on whether Starmer can reassert control — or whether the rebellion will continue to grow into a full-scale leadership contest.
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