Can Keir Starmer be ousted as UK PM by the Labour Party? The possibilities explained

Could the Labour Party get rid of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer?

After Nigel Farage’s anti-immigrant Reform UK surged in local body elections in Britain, Scotland and Wales last week, Starmer vowed to stay on. The high-profile election, the first since the Labour government led by Starmer came to power in 2024, has left the UK Prime Minister under increasing pressure.

Starmer, in a major speech to the Labour Party on Monday, vowed not to back down. “I'm not going to walk away," Starmer said, adding that Britain is a "reasonable, tolerant, decent country", and this is "the Britain I will fight for." He admitted that "like every government, we've made mistakes... but we got the big political choices right." He said that Labour's losses "hurt" and that "I get it, I feel it", and that he understands the "enormity" of the task he is facing. Starmer added that Labour inherited "a terrible legacy" from the previous Conservative government which "cost this country a huge amount".

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Starmer said working people "paid the price" and Labour "will not inflict that" on the nation. He said he feels "a responsibility to deliver the change" and that Labour must inject "much more hope and optimism into what we are saying". However, it seems that some in the Labour Party are already looking beyond Starmer. But how could Labour get rid of its leader?

Let’s take a closer look

A new challenger emerges

A new opponent from within the Labour Party emerged over the weekend to take on Starmer. Catherine West, a backbencher and little-known MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet, has announced that she will take on Starmer for the leadership role – if no one within the Cabinet does. West previously served as a junior Foreign Office minister in the Starmer government. She was sacked in a Cabinet reshuffle last year.

The 81 MPs rule

According to The Guardian, removing any Labour leader from the head of the party is no mean feat. Since World War II, no Labour leader has been officially forced out (though Tony Blair resigned after pressure from MPs). As per the party rule book, anyone wishing to challenge Starmer must get written support from 20 per cent of the party in Parliament – 81 MPs. Anyone who gets these numbers can automatically challenge Starmer in a leadership battle.

Even if West gets the numbers, Starmer has said he has no intention of standing down – which means a one-on-one contest between the sitting Prime Minister and a little-known backbencher. West’s chances of unseating Starmer in such a battle are not good. This, in fact, strengthens Starmer’s position.

Britain's former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. Reuters

However, there is no evidence thus far that West has the numbers to back her up. According to the BBC, thus far around 42 Labour MPs have called on Starmer to step down. Even more importantly, it is unknown how many of these MPs back West specifically. It is more likely that Labour MPs are waiting for a higher-profile figure to emerge such as former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner or Health Secretary Wes Streeting. According to the BBC, if West gets around 60 to 70 MPs, this could show Rayner and Streeting that there is a movement within Labour MPs to move on from Starmer.

Resignation en masse

According to The Telegraph, another avenue for Labour MPs to take on Starmer is to resign en masse. This previously happened under the Conservative Boris Johnson government in 2022 when 30 MPs quit at one time. Such a move would only add to the considerable pressure Starmer is already facing. A number of regional Labour leaders could also call for Starmer to quit. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, for example, earlier did so. However, none of Starmer’s Cabinet colleagues or other Labour leaders joined in.

Behind-the-scenes appeals

Senior Labour leaders could also make a behind-the-scenes appeal to Starmer to step down. This has been done in the past with ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and the Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy, as per The Guardian. For Labour MPs, this would be the perfect scenario. But given how insistent Starmer seems to be about sticking around, this is an unlikely scenario.

Vote of confidence

According to The Guardian, Labour ministers could force Starmer to undergo a vote of confidence. However, an example from the not-too-distant past shows this may be a difficult path to tread. In 2016, then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn carried on after losing half his shadow Cabinet in the aftermath of Brexit. Despite Corbyn losing a no-confidence vote 40–172, he still refused to resign.

Former Labur Leader and current Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn. Reuters

As per The Telegraph, none of the bigwigs in Starmer’s Cabinet, including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, have shown any inkling to do so. Only former minister Josh Simons, who played a key hand in elevating Starmer, has publicly called on the UK Prime Minister to quit.

Andy Burnham returns

According to the BBC, a return by Andy Burnham as an MP would cause potential complications for Starmer. After all, the Greater Manchester mayor is known to be eyeing the Prime Minister’s chair. He was stopped from doing so earlier this year by Labour's National Executive Committee.

However, Burnham would need a Labour MP to step down, contest the by-election and win. Burnham could also lose the contest. Though Burnham’s supporters are arguing for their man, members of the Executive Committee have indicated to the BBC that they would block Burnham again.

Starmer steps down

Given what Starmer has said, this is by far the most unlikely of all outcomes. However, considering that politics can change on a dime, Starmer stepping down cannot be ruled out with certainty. Given what has happened in the past, the ultimate decision to go will likely rest with Starmer.

FAQs

1. Can Labour MPs remove Keir Starmer easily?

No. Removing a Labour leader is difficult. A challenger needs support from 20 per cent of Labour MPs (81 MPs) to trigger a leadership contest.

2. Who could replace Keir Starmer if he steps down?

Potential names include Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting, and Andy Burnham, though no clear successor has emerged yet.

3. Has a Labour leader ever been forced out before?

No Labour leader has been officially forced out since World War II. However, Tony Blair has resigned under pressure.

With inputs from agencies