Oxford University graduate facing major resignation calls

More than 80 Labour MPs have called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign from office or set out a timetable for departure, following the loss of almost 1,500 local councillors across England in the recent local elections.

In addition, his party lost control of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) for the first time ever, had its worst performance ever in the Scottish election and there has been widespread dissatisfaction with the Government’s performance.

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After studying his undergraduate at the University of Leeds he earned a postgraduate Bachelor of Civil Law degree from St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford, in 1986.

In 2022 he was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Edmund Hall.

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

Earlier today (Tuesday, May 12), the 63-year-old told his cabinet that the “Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered” and insisted he would continue governing.

Even so multiple ministers have resigned including Jess Phillips, Alex Davies-Jones and Miatta Fahnbulleh, with others reportedly urging him to consider his position.

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One of Sir Keir’s closest aides declined to say whether he would lead his party into the next general election.

Cabinet minister Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, said: “I’m not going to get ahead of any decision the PM may or may not take.”

Among those rumoured as possible replacements for Sir Keir are Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner.