Starmer Loses Health Secretary and Four Junior Ministers as 90-Plus Labour MPs Demand His Exit

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government was convulsed by mass resignations across 11-14 May 2026 amid the gravest internal challenge of his premiership. The crisis followed heavy 2026 local-election losses in which Labour shed roughly 1,500 council seats and lost control of about 38 councils, with Reform UK making large gains. On 11 May, after a Starmer press conference in which he said he would not 'change course because the political weather has turned,' four parliamentary private secretaries (Tom Rutland, Joe Morris, Melanie Ward, Naushabah Khan) quit. On 12 May four junior ministers resigned: Miatta Fahnbulleh (Devolution, Faith and Communities), Jess Phillips (Safeguarding), Alex Davies-Jones (Victims) and Zubir Ahmed (Health).

On 14 May, Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned from cabinet, saying it would be 'dishonourable and unprincipled' to remain and that he had 'lost confidence' in Starmer; Starmer appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray as Health Secretary. By mid-May, reporting put the number of Labour MPs publicly urging Starmer to resign or set a departure timetable at over 90 (LabourList tracking cited 97 calling for resignation versus 111 backing the PM). Former minister Catherine West had on 9 May signalled a leadership challenge; under Labour rules a challenger needs nominations from 81 MPs (20 percent of the ~403-strong parliamentary party). The contest gained a vehicle when Makerfield MP Josh Simons announced he would stand down; on 15 May Labour's NEC cleared Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to contest the resulting by-election, set for 18 June against Reform UK's Robert Kenyon.

Burnham confirmed he would challenge Starmer for the leadership if he won the seat. Starmer did not resign during the window.