2026 Labour Party leadership crisis

Backlash to government policies

In September 2024, YouGov reported that 67% of people had a negative view of the government's immigration policies while 16% had a positive view, 64% of people said the government were managing the health service badly and 70% of people were against the government's decision to release prisoners early to ease prison capacity.^[11] By September 2025, 14% of people approved of the government's record while 69% disapproved. Roughly two-thirds of people believed the Labour party was out of touch, unclear of what they stood for, weak, and untrustworthy.^[12]

77% of people did not trust Labour to keep its promises, or trust Labour to help the cost of living crisis. By January 2026, YouGov believed 75% of people had an unfavourable opinion of Starmer, a net favourability rating of −57, only matched by Truss.^[13] Luke Tryl of polling company More in Common said that Starmer had "become a vessel for people's frustration with the system."^[14]

In March 2026, Unite the Union, one of the largest trade unions, cut their Labour affiliation by 40% because of "Labour's incompetent behaviour" in response to the Birmingham bin strike. General secretary Sharon Graham said, "Workers are scratching their heads asking whose side are Labour on, who do they really represent, because it certainly isn't workers."^[15]

Poor electoral performance

The most popular Labour politician^[16] and leadership hopeful Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, attempted to run for parliament at the 2026 Gorton and Denton by-election,^[17] but was blocked by the National Executive Committee, a decision Angela Rayner has since called a mistake. Hannah Spencer of the Green Party won and flipped the seat, with Labour coming third. Burnham previously defeated Spencer in the 2024 Greater Manchester mayoral election, and she acknowledged Burnham's local popularity, stating that if he had been the candidate, Spencer would have faced a "harder fight".^{[18][19][20][21]}

Ahead of the 2026 Scottish parliament election, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar publicly called for Starmer to resign, calling his leadership a distraction.^[22] At the 2026 Senedd election, Welsh Labour suffered a massive defeat which ended 100 years of Labour control of Wales, relegating them to third place behind the governing Plaid Cymru and Official Opposition Reform UK Wales, with their leader, Eluned Morgan, becoming the first sitting head of government to lose their seat in an election in British history.^[23]

At the 2026 local elections, Labour lost control of 35 councils and nearly 1,500 councillors (roughly 60% of seats up for election).^[24][25] The BBC's projected national vote share indicated that Labour would receive 17% of the vote if the local elections had taken place across the whole country, in joint third with the Conservatives and down nearly half from the general election.^[26] Following the result, Starmer appointed former prime minister Gordon Brown and Labour peer Harriet Harman to advisory roles in government in an attempt to reset his premiership. However, the BBC reported that Labour MPs were dissatisfied with the appointment, with one saying, "Not sure voters in Wigan, Wandsworth, Salford or Sunderland voted Reform because they thought we needed more advisers from a different era of Labour politics. I think this shows that Keir doesn't even understand the problem, never mind the solution."^[27][28] However, opinion polling conducted in the wake of the 2026 local elections has shown that in England just 5% of those who voted Labour in the 2024 general election switched to Reform, while 32% switched to the Greens or the Lib Dems.^[29]

Peter Mandelson appointment scandal

In December 2024, the government announced prominent New Labour figure Peter Mandelson's appointment as the British Ambassador to the United States to strengthen their relationship with the incoming Trump administration.^[30] In September 2025, the extent of Mandelson's relationship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein became widespread as the Epstein files were released.^[31] Starmer dismissed Mandelson, and said that he regretted appointing him.^[32][33] The prime minister's Chief of Staff and long-time Starmer ally Morgan McSweeney took responsibility for the appointment and resigned in February 2026.^[34][35] Tim Allan, the Director of Communications, resigned the following day.^[36]

In April 2026, it was reported that Mandelson had been denied security clearance by security vetting back in January 2025. A government spokesperson said "the decision to grant developed vetting to Peter Mandelson against the recommendation of UK Security Vetting was taken by officials in the FCDO".^[37] Starmer said he was not told that he had failed security vetting, and denied claims that he had misled the House of Commons. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper dismissed the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office Olly Robbins, who said he had been put under "serious pressure" to push through the appointment at a summons to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.^[38][39] Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch called Starmer's position "untenable",^[40] while the scandal prompted other party leaders to call for the prime minister's resignation, including Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats; Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK; Zack Polanski, leader of the Greens; Liz Saville Roberts, leader of Plaid Cymru in Westminster; and John Swinney, the leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister of Scotland.^[41]

Initial backlash

On 9 February 2026, amid the Mandelson scandal, Anas Sarwar held a press conference in Glasgow to publicly call for Starmer to resign, becoming one of the first Labour politicians to do so. Sarwar stated that "the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change," citing a series of "mistakes" that he believed were undermining Labour's prospects in the elections. Despite describing Starmer as a "decent man" and a "friend," Sarwar argued that his primary loyalty was to Scotland and that the Prime Minister's continued leadership was sabotaging the party's future.^[42]

Sarwar said he had spoken to Starmer earlier that day to inform him of his decision, stating that the two had "disagreed" on the necessity of his resignation. In the immediate aftermath, senior Cabinet members including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves rallied behind Starmer, emphasising his mandate and urging party unity. Within Scottish Labour, the move caused significant friction; while Monica Lennon supported Sarwar's "leadership," others like former Scottish Secretary Ian Murray branded the call a threat to party stability. Opposition leaders John Swinney and Russell Findlay characterised the situation as "opportunism" and a "meltdown."^[43] Addressing the Parliamentary Labour Party later that evening, Starmer remained defiant, stating he had "won every fight I've ever been in" and refused to walk away.^[44]

Following the local elections, several backbench Labour MPs were vocal in their disappointment. Debbie Abrahams believed it would be a matter of months before Starmer would step down as prime minister, and Clive Betts said the prime minister should step down in the not-too-distant future.^[27] Starmer, in an interview with The Observer, said: "I want 10 years in No 10 and will fight my challengers."^[45] On 9 May, former Foreign Office junior minister Catherine West said that she would launch a leadership challenge against Starmer if the cabinet did not move against him.^[46] She needed nominations from 81 MPs (20% of the total parliamentary party) to trigger a leadership election, although she said she did not wish to stand, leading some to label her a stalking horse.^[47] She later clarified that she was requesting the prime minister to "set out a timetable for his departure". In a move that The Guardian described as "bizarre", West said on 14 May that if a leadership contest did happen, she might support Starmer anyway.^[48]

Speech and resignations

On the morning of 11 May, Starmer held a press conference that was reported by The Guardian as his "final chance to save his premiership". Reflecting on the local election results and his own position, Starmer said: "I'm not going to stand here and pretend this isn't a tough moment for our party, or that we didn't take a bruising at the ballot box. But let me be perfectly clear about my position: I am not running away from the challenge, nor am I going to change course because the political weather has turned. My position is, and will remain, completely fixed on the long-term renewal of this country, regardless of the short-term political cost.".^[49] While this conference bought Starmer a temporary reprieve from an immediate formal challenge, it did not stop the internal pressure on his leadership as political analysts and internal Labour MPs widely deemed the execution ineffective. As of 11 May 2026, around eighty Labour MPs had called on Starmer to set a date for his departure.^[50] Four parliamentary private secretaries resigned following the speech: Tom Rutland, Joe Morris, Melanie Ward, and Naushabah Khan. Sally Jameson, another PPS, did not resign but called on Starmer to go.

There were reports that four cabinet ministers had urged Starmer to go, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.^[51][52] Defenders of the prime minister such as Angela Eagle said that days before the state opening of parliament on 13 May was "not the time for destabilisation".^[53]

On 12 May, four junior ministers resigned from the government: Miatta Fahnbulleh^[54] (the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities), Jess Philips^[55] (the Minister of Safeguarding), Alex Davies-Jones (the Victims Minister), and Zubir Ahmed (a Minister of Health). Philips said in her resignation statement, "The desire not to have an argument means we rarely make an argument, leaving opportunities for progress stalled and delayed."^[55] On 12 May 2026, appointments were made to replace ministers who had resigned during the day.^[56]

On 14 May 2026, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting resigned from the cabinet. In his resignation letter, while acknowledging his own achievements in his former government role, Streeting strongly criticised Starmer's leadership, stating that he had "lost confidence" in him and that it would be "dishonourable and unprincipled" to remain in the cabinet.^[57] Rosie Wrighting also resigned as private secretary in the Department of Health.^[58]

Reactions

Parliamentary Labour Party responses

Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham was elected as the MP for Leigh at the 2001 general election. He joined the Brown ministry as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2007,^[67] and was the Health Secretary from 2009 to 2010. Following the defeat and subsequent resignation of prime minister Gordon Brown, Burnham stood in the 2010 Labour leadership election, finishing fourth and losing to Ed Miliband.^[68] Burnham also stood in the 2015 Labour leadership election following the 2015 election and Miliband's resignation, coming second behind Jeremy Corbyn.^[69]

Burnham pursued local government and ran to be the mayor of Greater Manchester at its inaugural 2017 mayoral election, winning 63% of the vote.^[70] In his victory speech, he said, "We are going to change politics and make it work better for people." At subsequent mayoral elections in 2021 and 2024 mayoral elections, Burnham won 67% and 63% of the vote respectively.^[71][72] His tenure as mayor made him immensely popular, with some giving him the nickname 'King of the North'.^[16][73]

Amid polling woes, Burnham attempted to challenge the Gorton and Denton by-election in January 2026. Labour party rules stipulate that as a sitting directly elected mayor, he required approval of the Labour party National Executive Committee to stand, which he requested on 24 January.^[74] The NEC voted 8–1 against Burnham's candidacy, with deputy leader Lucy Powell, a Burnham ally, being the sole vote in favour.^[75] There was speculation that Burnham would use the by-election to trigger a leadership challenge.^[76]

Becoming prime minister does not require a person to sit in the House of Commons or House of Lords. Alec Douglas-Home was prime minister for a month after disclaiming his peerage but before winning the 1963 Kinross and Western Perthshire by-election. However, Labour party rules require any leadership candidates to be a sitting member of the parliamentary Labour party. This meant that Burnham would be required to stand for a seat before launching a leadership challenge, which the NEC could block again. It was reported that the NEC might not block Burnham if he stood for another seat.^[77] On 11 May, Rayner said that the NEC blocking Burnham's return to parliament was a mistake.^[78]

Burnham travelled to London on 12 May to meet MPs.^[79] On 13 May, Pippa Crerar on ITV's Peston reported that allies of Burnham said they had found him a seat and speculated that it could be one of the following: Bootle – denied by sitting MP Peter Dowd, Blackley and Broughton – denied by sitting MP Graham Stringer, Leigh and Atherton – denied by sitting MP Jo Platt. Also denying that they plan to step down are: Jeff Smith at Manchester Withington and Afzal Khan at Manchester Rusholme. The programme further speculated – on a map in the studio – that Makerfield, Liverpool Walton, Liverpool Wavertree, St Helens South and Whiston, Stockport and Warrington North could also be the constituency that Burnham's allies were referring to.^[80]

His candidacy is popular with the soft left of the party.^[81] He is considered that factions preferred candidate along with Angela Rayner.^[82] Some members of the Tribune group are also supportive.^[83] Labour MPs who have supported Burnham publicly include Miatta Fahnbulleh, Rachael Maskell, Clive Lewis, Paula Barker, Richard Burgon, Connor Naismith and Sarah Owen.^[84] He has been described as "the only major politician in the country who enjoys positive favourability ratings" according to opinion polls.^[85]

On 14 May 2026, Josh Simons resigned as MP for Makerfield triggering a by-election for Burnham,^[86] who later confirmed on X that he would request the permission of the NEC to stand in the by-election.^[87] The Guardian reported that Starmer would not seek to block Burnham from running this time.^[88] On 15 May, NEC approved Burnham's candidacy in the upcoming by-election selection process.^[89] On 19 May, Andy Burnham was officially confirmed by the Labour Party as its candidate in Makerfield.^[90]

Al Carns

Al Carns was elected as the MP for Birmingham Selly Oak at the 2024 United Kingdom general election.^[116] He is former Royal Marines officer and a junior minister at the Ministry of Defence.^[117] He has reportedly considered standing in any leadership election.^[118] He has been considered a "wildcard" candidate by Sky News^[119] and ITV News correspondent Harry Horton,^[120] while ITV correspondent Shehab Khan referred to him as a "potential outsider".^[121]

David Lammy

David Lammy was elected as the MP for Tottenham at the 2000 Tottenham by-election.^[122] He served as a junior government minister in the New Labour government. In the Starmer ministry he served as Foreign Secretary before being appointed Secretary of State for Justice and replacing Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister in September 2025.^[123] In October 2025, his candidacy was reported in The Independent as being a potential "unifier in a still factional party".^[124]

Shabana Mahmood

Shabana Mahmood was elected as the MP for Birmingham Ladywood at the 2010 general election. She serves as Home Secretary. She has reportedly told the prime minister to set out a timetable for standing down.^[125]

Ed Miliband

Ed Miliband was elected as the MP for Doncaster North at the 2005 general election. He currently serves as the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero^[126] and previously served as the Leader of the Labour Party from 2010–2015.^[127] Miliband has been recently linked with a leadership bid, specifically on the basis that Burnham would be unable to secure a seat as Member of Parliament as a soft left candidate.^[128]

Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner was elected as the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne at the 2015 general election. She was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2024.^[129] In September 2025 she resigned from the cabinet amidst a tax scandal, but was later cleared of wrongdoing on 14 May 2026.^[130] Since leaving the cabinet she has been critical of Starmer.^[131]

On 11 May 2026, she made a speech at the Communication Workers Union conference in Bournemouth.^[132] In the speech Rayner referenced the local elections saying "people have turned to populists and nationalists because we have not done enough to fix it".^[133] On the factionalism in the Labour Party she said "we as the party have to do better than this and we can only prove we mean our Labour values by putting the common interest ahead of factionalism".^[134] She has been speculated as a candidate to oppose Wes Streeting.^[135]

Wes Streeting

Wes Streeting was elected as the MP for Ilford North at the 2015 general election. He served in the Starmer ministry as Health Secretary since 2024.^[136] He has been speculated as a candidate to replace Starmer.^[137] In late 2025, Streeting called the reports the "worst attack on a faithful" since Joe Marler's elimination in reality television series The Celebrity Traitors.^[138] His ally Zubir Ahmed resigned as a government minister on 12 May.^[139]

Streeting met the prime minister shortly before the 2026 State Opening of Parliament.^[140][141] According to The Guardian, Streeting is considered to be unpopular with party members.^[142] His candidacy has been opposed by Labour MPs who support Burnham.^[143] It was reported that Streeting was prepared to resign to trigger a leadership challenge against Starmer as early as on 14 May,^[144][145] which was confirmed by Streeting posting his resignation letter on X at 13:00 on 14 May, stating that it would be "dishonourable and unprincipled" to remain in his cabinet position.^[146] On 16 May, Streeting confirmed he will stand in a leadership election, should one be triggered.^[147]

Polling

In May, polling companies began polling Labour members on their preferred candidate in a potential leadership contest.