Pressure intensified on Keir Starmer on Monday after two ministerial aides resigned and publicly called for him to step down as Prime Minister amid growing unrest within the Labour Party.
One of the aides, Rutland, announced his resignation in a strongly worded letter, stating that he no longer believed Starmer could restore confidence in his leadership.
“It is clear to me that the Prime Minister will not be able to regain his authority,” he wrote.
Rutland said feedback from constituents during recent engagements showed increasing frustration directed specifically at Starmer rather than local Labour representatives.
“I heard little dislike for local councillors, nor for the Labour Party, but the animosity towards the Prime Minister was clear,” he stated.
The resignation comes in the aftermath of local elections in which Labour reportedly suffered major setbacks, fueling internal criticism over the party’s direction and electoral performance.
Rutland warned that Starmer’s leadership had become an obstacle to delivering the political change voters expected and urged the party to take urgent steps to prevent further decline.
The crisis within Labour has continued to deepen, with reports indicating that more than 50 MPs have either openly demanded Starmer’s resignation or asked him to outline a timetable for his departure.
Some lawmakers have blamed the Prime Minister for failing to reconnect with voters and reverse the party’s weakening public support.
“I do not have faith that the Prime Minister can meet this challenge,” Rutland added, referring to concerns over Labour’s ability to counter the growing influence of Reform UK.
Despite the mounting pressure, Starmer has maintained a defiant stance, insisting he would prove critics wrong.
In an earlier response, the British Prime Minister admitted mistakes had been made but argued that his government had taken the correct decisions on major political issues.
Meanwhile, Sally Jameson, a ministerial aide to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, also backed calls for Starmer to set out a clear exit timeline, further exposing widening divisions within Labour ranks.
Reform UK: Two ministerial aides quit, call for Keir Starmer’s resignation
