In the wake of Labour’s devastating performance in recent local elections, Prime Minister Keir Starmer finds himself under intense scrutiny. Over 80 MPs have publicly called for his resignation, while some 110 signed a letter supporting him. The situation has escalated as Health Secretary Wes Streeting is poised to trigger a leadership challenge within the next day.
According to sources close to Streeting, he met with Prime Minister Starmer in Downing Street on Wednesday morning, in what was described by one ally as “a swift visit.” This meeting comes after Labour’s local election bloodbath, where it lost ground across multiple constituencies. The Health Secretary is expected to formally challenge Starmer within 24 hours.
Starmer is fighting back against the impending leadership contest with a promise of change and warnings about potential chaos if he were to step down. In Parliament on Wednesday afternoon, Starmer urged MPs to “step back” from triggering any political infighting that could embarrass King Charles during his State Opening of Parliament ceremony later in the day.
The Health Secretary’s allies have been busy since the meeting, telephoning Labour Party MPs and lobbying for their support ahead of a formal challenge. One ally stated, "Wes is confident he has the backing needed to mount an effective leadership campaign."
Meanwhile, potential challenger Andy Burnham faces his own hurdles. To become Prime Minister himself, Burnham needs to secure a sitting MP willing to resign their seat in order to hold a by-election that could provide him with parliamentary support.
The looming challenge comes as Starmer aims to deliver on the promise of change he made during Wednesday’s State Opening of Parliament. However, his second King’s Speech has left some critics feeling let down, particularly those who believe Labour needs more radical policies to regain public trust.
As pressure continues to mount on both sides, all eyes are now on what will happen in the next 24 hours for Prime Minister Starmer and his leadership within the Labour party.
This article was produced by AVALW News on Thursday, May 14, 2026 based on reporting from 9 verified news sources across 2 countries. Our editorial process cross-references facts from multiple independent outlets to deliver accurate, comprehensive coverage. All original sources are linked below.