UK PM Starmer Faces Leadership Challenge After Disastrous Local Polls

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to address the nation on Monday (May 11, 2026), attempting to regain political momentum after Labour suffered sweeping defeats in local and regional elections across the United Kingdom. The results, which saw the party lose nearly 1,500 council seats and cede control of Wales’s devolved government for the first time in 27 years, have ignited internal calls for leadership change.

Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, surged from under 100 to over 1,400 local seats on an anti-immigration platform, while the Scottish National Party demanded a new independence referendum. Labour MPs, including former junior minister Catherine West and veteran Clive Betts, have openly questioned Starmer’s leadership, with West threatening to initiate a leadership contest if no Cabinet minister steps forward. Such a contest would require support from 81 Labour MPs.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner stopped short of calling for Starmer’s resignation but stated the current strategy 'isn’t working and it needs to change.' No clear successor has emerged, with potential figures like Andy Burnham lacking parliamentary seats and others facing internal divisions. Starmer, 63, has maintained his intention to serve a full term, telling the Sunday Mirror he plans to lead Labour into the next general election, expected by 2029.

The crisis follows a series of missteps, including a scandal over the appointment and dismissal of Peter Mandelson as U.S. ambassador due to links with Jeffrey Epstein, and sluggish economic performance amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures. While Starmer has drawn praise for foreign policy stances, such as opposing U.S. President Donald Trump on Iran, domestic discontent has mounted.

Starmer’s Monday speech is expected to acknowledge public dissatisfaction and outline accelerated measures on growth, energy, and European relations. The party leadership has ruled out immediate leadership elections, and the next parliamentary session will proceed as scheduled, with internal Labour discussions expected to intensify in the coming week.