30 Labour MPs demand Starmer resign after historic 1,406 seat losses

A total of 30 Labour MPs have called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down following devastating election results for the party, which saw a historic loss of 1,406 seats.

Clive Betts, the MP for Sheffield South East and a Labour Party MP since 1992, told the BBC: "What people said repeatedly was we might vote Labour, we've always voted Labour, we might vote Labour again, but not while Keir is the leader. It was repeated over and over again."

"That's a real problem going forward. I don't think rebooting and refreshing is going to make any difference. Unfortunately, the public, by and large, has stopped listening to Keir. They have made their minds up," he added.

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Labour's loss has proven to be historic, with the party now down to 1,406 seats. Reform UK gained more than 1,442 seats, and the Greens reached 515 councillors. The Conservatives lost 557 councillors, while the Liberal Democrats gained 151.

Louise Haigh, MP for Sheffield Heeley, was one of the first to suggest the PM name a date for his departure. She said: "Unless the government delivers significant and urgent change, then the prime minister cannot lead us into another election."

One senior backbencher said: "We want Keir to agree a timetable for his departure, but we want it to be dignified. He should have his last conference this autumn and then oversee a leadership contest straight after. He can't take us into next year's locals. It's too late."

Starmer has said he "won't walk away" from leading the country, saying it would "plunge the party into chaos."