Starmer refuses to step down after election setback

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to remain in office despite mounting pressure to resign following a poor showing in local elections. Speaking at a cabinet meeting after what he described as a destabilizing period, Starmer accepted responsibility for the defeat but stressed that no formal leadership challenge has been triggered within the Labour Party.

Reports indicated that several senior ministers were prepared to urge him to announce a timetable for his departure. However, Starmer did not open the floor to objections and instead argued for continuity, shifting the discussion toward government policy and international security concerns.

After the meeting, a number of cabinet members publicly backed the Prime Minister, emphasizing the need for stability and focus on economic and security challenges. Despite this show of support, nearly 80 lawmakers across different factions of the party have called on Starmer to set out a timeline for his resignation, intensifying internal pressure on his leadership.