Four ministers resign and call for Keir Starmer to step down, joining more than 80 Labour MPs who have urged the PM to quit immediately or draw up a timetable to leave
Meanwhile 110 Labour MPs sign a statement backing the PM, saying "this is no time for a leadership contest"
Deputy PM David Lammy says "no-one seems to have the names to stand up" against Starmer, and tells his colleagues to "take a breath"
The PM told a cabinet meeting earlier he would "get on with governing" and that a leadership contest had not been triggered – here's how one could be set in motion
Starmer will meet Health Secretary Wes Streeting, seen as a likely leadership rival, on Wednesday morning – who else could potentially challenge the PM?
Edited by Charlotte Hadfield and Andrew Humphrey, with reporting by Chris Mason and Joe Pike
Iain Watson
Political correspondent
The Health Secretary Wes Streeting is meeting the Prime Minister tomorrow, as we've been reporting.
The approach taken in the Starmer camp to potential challengers is to stick strictly to Labour’s rules, and to resist a timetable for resignation.
This evening David Lammy asserted that no challenger had come forward.
And I am told the PM’s allies are convinced that the health secretary will not be able to produce a list of 81 supporters in his meeting tomorrow – which essentially means that this potential challenge is over before it began.
Some of his backers had written letters suggesting the PM had lost the support of the country and the ministers seen as sympathetic to the health secretary resigned, but that hasn’t convinced Keir Starmer to go.
But some MPs on the party’s right, who would have been assumed to be Streeting supporters, have signed a statement saying now is not the time for a leadership contest.
However, even if Starmer’s allies are right about his level of support, a different challenge isn’t off the agenda.
It’s possible the Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham could get the required names.
But as he is not an MP, he’d have to get back to parliament first.
Ed Thomas
Reporting from Blackpool
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"We're not seeing the Labour Party we voted in" – People in Blackpool give their verdict on Labour's leadership
I've spent the day in Blackpool – a town that has changed its political allegiances many times – to speak to locals and holidaymakers.
Lindsey, who is enjoying a drink with her family at the top of Blackpool Tower, says she wants Starmer to stay because she feels like politics is too tumultuous.
When she voted for Labour, Lindsey says "it was very much with a hope that it would be a change from what we had".
"My little one there is coming up to 13 and I really worry about what is going to be the future for him."
“It is incredibly frustrating to see how things are deteriorating,” Lindsey says
Kasey is a mum with two jobs, and says she does not feel like the country is working for her.
She is quick to tell us she wants Starmer to go. “The world is going to pot and we need someone better,” she says.
But she adds if there is a change of leadership, she will stick with Labour.
Kasey says if there is a change of leadership, she will stick with Labour
Charlotte and Jack are having a chippy with their little boy. Charlotte wants Starmer gone, explaining that although she knows that the PM has introduced good policies for families, she has lost faith in him and the government.
“I don’t think he is the right person for the job,” she says.
Meanwhile, Jack says he’d give Starmer a second chance if he presented a plan. “You see taxes rise – the personal allowance is frozen – you vote a Labour government in thinking it’s representing the working man.”
Chris Mason
Political editor
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Labour MP Miatta Fahnbulleh, who was the first minister to resign today, tells the BBC the prime minister has “lost the trust and confidence” of voters, and should set out a timetable for an “orderly transition” to a new leader.
She says it had been a “hard” decision to resign, but that it was the “right thing to do".
The former housing minister tells me “we came into government promising change, people expect that change…they want us to step up and that does require us to have a much bigger vision than we’ve had".
"It requires pace and ambition, and I think we’ve made too many mistakes, been too faltering, and we need to step up.”
She says “it’s within his gift to set a timetable that means we do this right," insisting that the Labour Party “won’t cycle through leaders – we’ll do it once if we do it".
Fahnbulleh adds that “no one wants us to rush," and that the PM “needs to steer us through the summer” and “then set in train a proper process".
Asked if her suggested time frame means Andy Burnham would then be able to stand, she said her priority was for any change to be done orderly while Labour continued to govern the country.
“If we have a contest, and it’s still a big if, of course Andy Burnham should be part of this, we need all of our talents setting out their stall," she says.
She adds that Starmer has “always acted in the public interest" and she hopes he does that now.
Joe Pike
Political correspondent
Health Secretary Wes Streeting will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Number 10 tomorrow to discuss the current turbulence in government.
Streeting is widely considered to be keen to succeed Starmer, and a number of the health secretary's supporters are among the ministers and parliamentary private secretaries who have resigned this week.
Starmer told his colleagues at cabinet this morning that he would be happy to meet them individually, and it's understood that Streeting requested a meeting.
Allies of the health secretary say he won’t be saying anything after tomorrow's encounter because he does not want to distract from the King’s Speech.
Yet the instability surrounding the prime minister's position is sure to overshadow the state opening of parliament, whether Streeting talks to the media or not.Chris Mason
Political editor
Health Secretary Wes Streeting will meet the prime minister tomorrow morning. Joe Pike
Political correspondent
110 Labour MPs have signed a statement opposing a leadership contest.
The statement reads: "Last week we had a devastatingly tough set of election results. It shows we have a hard job ahead to win back trust from the electorate.
"That job needs to start today – with all of us working together to deliver the change the country needs. We must focus on that.
"This is no time for a leadership contest."
We can now bring you more from Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy's comments to the BBC outside Downing Street.
Lammy says the PM "has my full support," adding that "no one seems to have the names to stand up" against him.
"No-one has come forward to put themselves forward in the processes that exist in the party," Lammy says.
He adds that those suggesting Starmer stand down as prime minister should "say which candidate would do better".
David Lammy has said Keir Starmer has his "full support" and urges Labour colleagues to step back and "take a breath".
Speaking outside No 10, the deputy prime minister says: "We must put country before party."
Lammy adds that the only person who benefits from the Labour Party "navel-gazing" is Nigel Farage, and asks colleagues not to benefit the Reform leader or his party.
Kris Bramwell
BBC News
You've been sending us your thoughts on the prime minister's position – here's a selection:
Starmer should resign. He comes across as just another career politician who says whatever is needed to stay in power. More and more people are starting to see that he seems more interested in controlling and reshaping the Labour Party than actually standing for clear principles or delivering real change for ordinary voters.
Dean in Manchester
Stability at this time must overcome personal ambition. Shame on those MPs who cannot or will not see the damage they are doing to the country and party. Get behind the PM and show some leadership.
Pamela in Exeter
Starmer has not been concentrating on the important issues recently. I feel it important that we have a stable and reliable leader. Hopefully, a decision to that effect will be made soon. I am concerned that a new leader could well be more to the left. I am hoping that the country can survive until the next General Election when a more stable government with better economic policies can rule.
Chris in Bedfordshire
I think everyone needs to get behind Keir Starmer. He's only two years into the job. We all knew it would be tough for him. And he won't win many friends trying to put things right. All the MPs need to stop carping at him and try and understand….to change now would only let Reform into other seats.
Gary in Harrogate
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will not resign from her position and is "cracking on with the job", a spokesperson tells the BBC.
Yesterday she was among a number of cabinet ministers believed to have urged the prime minister to set out a timetable for his resignation.Chris Mason
Political editor
The prime minister teeters this evening on the niceties of process.
His authority continues to drain; his government, his party openly combusting in front of us.
But today’s act of defiance – an expression of his long standing view that his ousting would herald chaos – hinges on Labour’s rulebook.
None of his potential successors has yet declared – let alone come forward with the requisite 81 names of Labour MPs.
And so while he looks increasingly done for in anything beyond the short term, at least for now he has a procedural barricade to cower behind. And – tactically – he’s saying to his potential challengers to put up or shut up.
For Wes Streeting in particular, then, whose nurturing of prime ministerial ambition isn’t recently acquired, a crunch point. To go for it, or not?
The potential prize, the premiership. The potential jeopardy, huge.
And meanwhile the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham found himself in London today, seeking support and a seat and sharpish.
It is seven years ago this month that Theresa May resigned as prime minister. Since then, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.
Only Sunak was ousted in an election. Starmer hangs on, for now. Joe Pike
Political correspondent
Allies of former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner tell the BBC she is prepared to run for leader if required.
But, they say, she is not advocating for an immediate contest, and is open to supporting other candidates.
While the number of MPs calling for Starmer to resign, or set a timetable for his resignation, has continued to rise today – a number on the prime minister's benches have come out in support.
Preet Kaur Gill says "voters did not elect us to turn inward and obsess over ourselves". She says Starmer is trying to "stop the destabilisation, the navel-gazing and get on with the job".
Michael Payne, who yesterday became a ministerial aide after a series of resignations, says the prime minister is "[getting] on with governing". He says a leadership election should not be triggered.
Also newly-promoted as a ministerial aide is Sean Woodcock, who says the prime minister "is right to get on with the job".
Sam Rushworth says he backs Starmer to "turn things around". He says the PM "won't have spent the weekend worrying about his career, he'll have been thinking of the country".
Meanwhile Catherine Atkinson says Starmer is "right to focus on getting on with the job", adding that the government needs "stability" rather than "Westminster turning in on itself".
Keir Starmer's position as prime minister has taken a further blow, as health minister Zubir Ahmed becomes the latest government minister to resign.
The first resignation of the day came from communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who said in her letter to the prime minister that the country was crying out for change, but “the public does not believe that you can lead this change – and nor do I".
Several hours later, Jess Phillips announced she was leaving her role as safeguarding minister, telling Starmer that "deeds, not words matter".
Alex Davies-Jones soon followed suit, as she called for the prime minister to "act in the country's interest and set out a timetable for your departure".
In his resignation letter, Zubir Ahmed said it's clear the public has "irretrievably lost confidence in you as prime minister".
In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Zubir Ahmed says "it is clear to see that whatever the magnitude of individual achievements and progress, they are now being dwarfed and undermined by a lack of values-driven leadership at the centre".
The letter continues: "It is clear from recent days, that the public across the UK has now irretrievably lost confidence in you as prime minister."
Ahmed, the MP for Glasgow South West, says during last week's Scottish parliamentary elections, Starmer was "the driving reason why Labour voters of 2024 would not vote for Scottish Labour in 2026".
He adds: "You once also said our work is urgent. I now ask you for the sake of that urgency and that national duty, to step aside and set a timetable for an expedient and orderly transition to new leadership that commands the confidence of our country."
Health minister Zubir Ahmed has become the latest government minister to resign from his post.
In his resignation letter posted on X, the Wes Streeting ally says: "It is clear from recent days, that the public across the UK has now irretrievably lost confidence in you as prime minister".
His resignation follows three other ministers – Jess Phillips, Alex Davies-Jones and Miatta Fahnbulleh.
By Christine Jeavans and Daniel Wainwright
As Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces growing calls to stand down, how does his almost two years in office compare with those of his predecessors in No 10?
Sir Keir is the UK’s fifth prime minister in the decade since David Cameron departed in July 2016.
This turbulent period includes Liz Truss’s famously short tenure of 49 days in 2022. Her successor Rishi Sunak triggered a snap general election in 2024 before reaching two years in power.
Prior to that, Boris Johnson and Theresa May each lasted a little over three years in office.
So recent prime ministers’ tenures seem short, especially when compared with Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair who each had more than a decade in the top job.
But looking further back in prime ministerial history, it’s Thatcher and Blair who are the exceptions as the longest-serving PMs since 1945.
When Thatcher took power in 1979, her predecessor James Callaghan had been prime minister for just over three years.
Before him, Harold Wilson’s second spell in office was just over two years, preceded by Ted Heath who spent nearly four years in power.
And while not as short as Truss’s time in power, Alec Douglas-Home lasted just shy of a year before being narrowly defeated in the 1964 general election.
As Labour MPs continue to come out either in support of the prime minister or calling for him to go, Keir Starmer is ploughing on with his agenda for the day.
The prime minister has been visiting construction apprentices at London South Bank Technical College – alongside Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden.
Defence minister Luke Pollard says he will not be resigning from his role because the defence portfolio "needs a steady hand" – but doesn't offer his backing of the prime minister.
In a post on X, he writes: "Whatever is happening elsewhere in British politics, national security is the first responsibility of government and something I take very seriously."
He doesn't mention the prime minister by name, but says he recognises the decision his colleagues are making "about the Leadership of our party".
"I too want bold leadership to deliver the change our country needs," he adds.
The total number of Labour MPs calling for Starmer to resign or set out a timetable for his resignation has reached 86.
The latest appears to be MP Andrew Cooper, who in a statement says it is now "important for the Prime Minister to set out a clear and considered timetable for his departure".
The BBC has counted MPs who have made public statements or interviews saying the PM should resign or set a timetable to go since the local elections last week.
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