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LIVE: Starmer under pressure as ministers quit, 80 MPs urge him to resign

The British prime minister is facing a crisis after his Labour Party suffered election losses.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts social media industry leaders to discuss child safety online on April 16, 2026 in London, England. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called a meeting with leaders of social media companies to discuss actions around keeping children safe online. In March the government launched a consultation on exploring measures to ensure children's safety across social media, AI chatbots and gaming platforms, including consideration of an under-16 social media ban. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, is under pressure to quit after his Labour Party suffered heavy losses in local elections [File: Leon Neal/Pool via Reuters]
By Edna Mohamed
Published On 12 May 2026

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  • Jess Phillips, a high-profile Labour minister, has quit in protest as Prime Minister Keir Starmer refuses to heed growing calls to resign, according to Sky News. Hours earlier, Miatta Fahnbulleh, a junior minister, was the first politician to leave government over the issue.
  • Starmer has promised to “get on with governing”, defying calls from about 80 MPs who are urging Starmer to leave imminently or set out a timetable to do so after his Labour Party suffered heavy losses in local elections.