<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>British Prime Minister </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/keir-starmer" rel="" target="_blank" title=" Keir Starmer"><span>Keir Starmer</span></a><span> is defying growing calls for him to quit despite more than 70 UK Labour MPs publicly calling for him to stand down.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a speech overnight, he pledged to "prove his doubters wrong" and to move the UK closer to the European Union in a bid to shore up his leadership.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It came after the ruling Labour Party suffered major losses last week in local elections across England and legislative votes in Scotland and Wales.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>BUDGET LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-budget-2026-live-updates-jim-chalmers-latest-politics-news-headline/f09409ce-c24e-4941-91e5-b797305ed61f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Negative gearing changes expected within hours</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will," Starmer said during a speech in London intended to kickstart his fightback. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But it appeared to have little impact, with at least 71 Labour MPs, from the 403 in Parliament, calling for him to release a timetable for his resignation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The BBC is reporting Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is among cabinet ministers urging Starmer to quit, but the cabinet remains split and the majority are backing him to stay.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/keir-starmer-under-pressure-to-quit-as-uk-pm/8380750c-fe13-49a9-9b2d-64421b627ff4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>None of the high-profile Labour politicians considered potential challengers to Starmer, including former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, has yet called for him to resign.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Over last weekend, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/australian-born-mp-catherine-west-threatening-challenge-to-keir-starmer/0c2d8494-5886-45d9-b44b-3227d8d1ec02" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australian-born Labour backbench MP Catherine West"><span>Australian-born Labour backbench MP Catherine West</span></a><span> threatened to trigger a leadership challenge against the prime minister, but later backed down. She has called for him to leave by September.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/accused-trump-assassin-cole-allen-pleads-not-guilty/6c4338d7-981f-4869-91c6-d7a307e3a9e1" target="_blank"><strong><span>Accused Donald Trump assassin pleads not guilty to all charges</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Since Starmer's government swept to a landslide election victory in July 2024, it has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has also had repeated policy backflips on issues such as welfare reforms.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Starmer has been further hurt by his disastrous decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain's ambassador to Washington.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Voters took their frustration out on the government last Thursday when Labour suffered a net loss of more than 1100 local council seats across England, and lost control of several local authorities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anti-immigration party Reform UK gained more than 1300 seats across England and made significant gains in legislative elections in Wales and Scotland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>- With Associated Press</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine"><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>