British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his leadership amid growing pressure within the ruling Labour Party. Some ministers and party members are demanding that he announced a timetable for stepping down as party leader. During an important Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, Mr Starmer said he would continue to focus on governing the country despite criticism following the Labour Party’s poor performance in the recent local elections.

The pressure on Mr Starmer increased after junior housing minister Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned from the government. However, Mr Starmer said the required threshold of 20 per cent MPs to challenge the Labour leader had not been met. He added that the Labour Party has a proper process to challenge a leader, and that process has not been triggered.

Addressing his Cabinet colleagues, Mr Starmer said he takes full responsibility for the election results and remains committed to delivering the changes promised by the government. He also said the past 48 hours have been destabilising for government, and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families.