PM Keir Starmer should ‘swallow pride’ and resign says voter

Public calls for Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation have grown louder after last week’s local election losses, with at least 79 Labour MPs now demanding he step aside.

The party’s defeat has not only exposed deep divisions within Labour but also prompted heated debates among local residents and party supporters.

On Tuesday (May 12), Darlington’s former MP, Baroness Jenny Chapman, said she was “not surprised” there had been no direct challenge to Sir Keir’s leadership.

She insisted the Cabinet was “united,” despite several ministers declining to comment as they left a key Cabinet meeting

Labour Party chairwoman and Redcar MP Anna Turley also stood by the embattled leader, saying he had her “full support”.

Chair of the Labour Party Anna Turley arrives in Downing Street ahead of a Cabinet meeting due to take place today. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces the biggest leadership crisis of his premiership as Cabinet ministers including the Home Secretary reportedly urged him to consider his position and Government aides quit their posts. (Image: Jonathan Brady / PA)

Meanwhile, City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy called for the PM to resign, saying she was ’embarrassed’ by the state of the Labour Party, which she claimed “lies on its death bed – with the only realistic cure being a change in direction and a change in leadership”.

But among voters and party members, support appears much more split.

Many readers took to Facebook to express their frustration.

Mr Quinn Emery said: “Do the best for the socialist party, side step and move aside (you’ll still have a job).

“A political party includes everyone, not someone.

“Swallow your pride and make way for someone fresh.

“Bringing back political people like Gordon looks to others as sheer desperation.

Do the honourable thing and stand down.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was told to ‘do the honourable thing’ by a resident. (Image: James Manning / PA)

Others were more critical of the party as a whole.

Kath Wods said: “Don’t think labour represents the working class any more.

“They seem to announce new ways of shafting the working people who are the backbone of any country almost every day, and the pensioners too.”

This view was echoed by Mr Nyge Morris, who posted: “The entire front bench have let the British people down, following weak leadership, pandering to a woke agenda.”

Yet some argue changing the leader alone won’t solve Labour’s problems.

Mr Charlie Bradley wrote: “Changing leader won’t make the slightest bit of a difference just as it didn’t for the Tories.

“Burnham, Rayner and Streeting are all woeful and have zero appeal to the wider public.”

As Labour’s internal conflict continues, County Durham residents await a resolution to the party’s deepening crisis.