Starmer Faces Resignation Calls After Labour's Election Losses

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing intense pressure to resign after Labour suffered significant losses in local elections across England, Scotland, and Wales. According to multiple reports, Wes Streeting's resignation as Health Secretary and subsequent announcement to challenge Starmer have added fuel to the fire, with many within the party calling for a change in leadership.

Streeting's speech at the Progress Conference highlighted his critique of Brexit, describing it as a 'catastrophic mistake' that has left Britain weaker economically and politically. He advocated for rejoining the EU, stating that 'Britain's future lies with Europe.' This stance contrasts sharply with Starmer's more cautious approach to EU relations. Streeting also criticized Labour's overcautiousness in opposition, arguing that the party must address big issues defining our age.

Meanwhile, Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, is set to run in a by-election for the Makerfield seat, which could position him to challenge Starmer's leadership. Burnham has indicated that while he respects the Brexit referendum result, any move to rejoin the EU would require a fresh mandate. His potential candidacy adds another layer of complexity to the Labour Party's internal strife.

The political turmoil within the Labour Party comes amid broader economic challenges and growing calls for a clearer vision on Brexit and economic policy. The local election results have highlighted the fracturing of traditional party lines, with Reform UK making significant gains in areas that voted heavily for Brexit. This shift underscores the ongoing impact of Brexit on British politics and the need for Labour to articulate a coherent strategy moving forward.

Former EU officials have warned that Britain would not be able to rejoin the EU on the special terms it enjoyed in the past if it decided to begin negotiations on re-entry. Georg Riekeles, a former adviser on the EU’s Brexit taskforce, said he expected member states would take “a very warm, welcoming” stance but also a “hard-headed” one to a British membership application. Sandro Gozi, Italy’s Europe minister from 2014-18, predicted that any re-entry negotiations would start with standard terms and that the 'tailor-made suit' is gone.

Fears of a Brexit 'betrayal' were mounting last night after Labour's two main leadership hopefuls, Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting, called for Britain to rejoin the EU. The comments prompted a fiery rebuke from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who warned rejoining would be a 'disaster' and plunge the country back into the bitter chaos of Brexit wars. Lord Gove, one of the architects of Brexit, said any moves to rejoin would be a 'betrayal,' and Reform leader Nigel Farage vowed to make the issue the focus of the Makerfield by-election.

The comments by the leading contenders to become the next Prime Minister suggest they would seek a mandate to rejoin the EU. Even Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy said it was clear that no lessons had been learned from Labour's worst local elections defeat in history. The timing of Streeting's speech was tricky for Burnham, who is facing a battle with Reform in Makerfield, where two-thirds of voters backed Leave.

Reform has vowed to make the by-election a de facto Brexit referendum. The party intends to plaster Burnham's views on election leaflets during the contest and brand him 'open borders Burnham.' Other Labour MPs have criticized the calls to rejoin the EU, saying their colleagues should 'stop whining' about Brexit.