British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer insists he has no intention of resigning as calls grow louder within his own Labour Party for him to step down after historic losses last week in local council elections. Starmer's insistence to stay has seen some of the junior members of his government quit in protest.
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TRANSCRIPT
All is not well in Downing Street - the official residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Sir Keir Starmer.
"Should the Prime Minister resign ministers? Is it over for Keir Starmer. Will you ask the Prime Minister to step down ministers? ...."
This reporter trying to get a response from Labour MPs entering Downing Street and possibly losing his voice in the process.
Members of the Prime Minister's own party want him to go after he hit the worst crisis of his tenure - triggered by the wholesale rejection of Labour in elections last week to local councils in England and to the parliaments in Scotland and Wales.
There are concerns it's a really bad sign ahead of the next general election- although that is not due until 2029.
But Sir Keir is adamant he is best person placed to lead the country through turbulent times.
"We are not just facing dangerous times, but dangerous opponents, very dangerous opponents. This hurts not just because Labour has done badly, but because if we don't get this right, our country will go down a very dark path."
And who are these opponents Sir Keir has labelled as dangerous?
The main beneficiary of Labour's poor showing at the polls is the populist Reform UK party of Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, which gained more than 1,000 council seats in England and at the other end of the political spectrum the left-wing Green Party also gaining seats.
Nationalists in Scotland and Wales also did well in the local elections.
The rejection of Labour make these the worst local election results for a governing party in more than three decades.
And members of Starmer's party are not happy - with four ministers resigning in the latest challenge to his leadership.
More than 80 Labour MPs have also signed a letter calling on Starmer to resign immediately or draw up a timeline outlining his plan to do so.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy says he is backing Starmer - and has urged Labour MPs to do the same.
"It's been 24 hours now and nobody has come forward to put themselves forward in the processes that exist in the party. No one seems to have the names to stand up against Keir Starmer. And for those who are suggesting that he should stand down, they should say which candidate would be better. Let's get on with the business of running this country."
Starmer has told a cabinet meeting he plans to get on with governing - and that a leadership contest had not been triggered with 110 Labour MPs also signing a statement backing the PM.
No MP has yet launched a formal bid to challenge Starmer.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, is seen as a likely leadership rival but as of yet has made no comment about any intention to do so.
On the streets of London reaction was mixed.
This man says even if Starmer goes - his replacement is likely to face the same issues.
“I think he's just being blamed for everything because it’s easy, isn't it? He's an easy target. I don't think he has the personality to carry off being a prime minister, and so they’re making him pay for it. But if he gets replaced, next person is not going to find it any easier.”
