UK politics live: Starmer has lost the country and should resign as PM, says former Labour ally

Sir Keir Starmer will set out a “fresh direction” as he battles to save his job in the face of a leadership challenge following Labour’s disastrous election results.

The Prime Minister, who has indicated he hopes to remain in power until 2034, has a major speech on Monday as he tries to shore up his position after the MP Catherine West declared her intention to launch a leadership bid.

Former minister Ms West intends to seek nominations on Monday but has made clear her campaign is an attempt to force the Cabinet to get behind a candidate to move against Sir Keir rather than a credible challenge to win the keys to No 10 herself.

As well as Monday’s event, the King’s Speech on Wednesday setting out the Government’s priorities will form part of an attempt by Sir Keir to reset his leadership after Labour was hammered at the ballot box.

In a further blow, former loyalist Josh Simons called for Sir Keir to quit, saying he had “lost the country”.

Despite the mounting calls for him to leave, the Prime Minister said he would not walk away from the job.

Writing in The Independent, Labour MP Catherine West warns Keir Starmer’s approach is “not cutting through”.

She has issued an ultimatum for the cabinet to challenge the prime minister by Monday or she will begin gathering names to support a leadership contest.

Nicola Sturgeon said the prime minister she “liked best” in her time in office was David Cameron – adding that she had “zero respect” for Boris Johnson.

The former SNP leader said people “often” asked her to rank the five different Conservative prime ministers she dealt with during her time as Scottish first minister.

While she insisted she was not going to do that, Ms Sturgeon told an audience at the Boswell Book Festival in the Scottish borders: “The one I liked best, in the sense that he was just easiest to get on with was David Cameron.

“The one I respected most, because she took the job seriously, always on top of her brief, even though we agreed on very little politically, was Theresa May.”

She added that “Rishi Sunak, I stood down not long after he became prime minister”.

Speaking about Liz Truss – who was in Downing Street for less than two months – Ms Sturgeon said: “I blinked and missed her.”

The former SNP leader added: Literally the only interaction we had was around the death of the late Queen, because she became prime minister and then didn’t last very long.

“And fair to say the one I have zero respect for was Boris Johnson, but there you go.”

Wes Streeting has reportedly told Sir Keir Starmer that he is preparing his case to be the next prime minister.

The health secretary is apparently readying to launch a campaign if Sir Keir is forced from office, according to reports in the Telegraph. However, Mr Streeting’s team has denied the claims.

The reports claim Mr Streeting told No 10 that he is not planning to challenge the prime minister directly, but is preparing in the event a contest is triggered by another candidate.

Backbencher Catherine West has called for the cabinet to challenge Starmer by Monday or said she will begin gathering names to support a leadership contest.

The leader of the performing arts union Equity has called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to set out a timetable in which he “resigns and is replaced”.

Paul W Fleming also told his union’s annual conference in Durham that Equity opposes Reform and what they threaten to do to the union movement.

He told delegates that among Reform voters are “people who are actually frustrated about the economic and social situation in which we find ourselves… who are desperately grabbing around for a different answer”.

He added: “There is one person who is disproportionately to blame: not Nigel Farage, but Keir Starmer, and this union should have no hesitation in calling for the Prime Minister to set out a timetable in which he resigns and is replaced.”

He said the rise of the far right, including Reform, was potentially the biggest threat to any union, adding: “Not every Reform voter. Not every Reform council candidate, but the leadership and direction and policies of that party are those of the far right.

“I have no shame in saying so, and I have no shame in saying that this union opposes them, opposes giving them a platform, and opposes what they threaten to do to our movement and trade union.”

Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, was met with applause as he addressed a rally against antisemitism in central London.

He called for universities to crackdown on antisemitism, adding: “We need to take on the failure of leadership in our universities. Maybe we should say to the universities, if you allow this to carry on, forget any form of grants. Forget any form of student loans. Forget any form of research funding.”

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, went on to stage to some jeers but the MC of the event told the audience he was here as a friend and the boos stopped.

Sir Ed said: “Extremism is the enemy of the Jewish people. Extremism is the enemy of our country.

“I say to moderates, let us unite. Let us unite, because the extremists are on the march and if we don’t unite, they will win.

“I want to make sure that we can continue this fight so we can get back our country, so you don’t have to contemplate leaving our great country, and I commit myself and my party to work with other moderates, to make sure that happens.”

The Greens will give their backing to Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth as the next first minister of Wales, the party leader has said.

Anthony Slaughter said Mr ap Iorwerth had a “clear mandate” to lead after winning the most seats in a historic Welsh Parliament election.

Plaid won the largest bloc in the Senedd, but fell short of a majority with 43 Members of the Senedd (MSs).

On Saturday, Mr ap Iorwerth told reporters he hoped to form a minority government and would be putting his name forward to become first minister.

Mr Slaughter and Paul Rock, who became the Greens’ first ever MSs in this election, will be voting in support, the party leader told the Press Association.

He said: “He has such a clear mandate to be the first minister, so we will be supporting that. I think he’ll make a good first minister.”

He said the Greens had been celebrating a “historic” result, despite returning fewer MSs than previously hoped.

Politicians from a number of political parties have taken to the stage to speak at rally against antisemitism in London on Sunday.

Thousands of protesters are gathered outside Downing Street waving Israeli flags, the Union flag, Iranian protest flags and holding protest placards. Some signs say “British Jews deserve better”, “where is Keir” and “Brits against antisemitism”.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition, was met with applause and cheers.

However work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden was jeered and booed as he spoke at a rally against antisemitism in London on Sunday.

Protestors shouted “shame”, “it’s your party’s fault”, “when will you act” and “Jew harmer” at Mr McFadden.

He told the crowd: “I come to speak for something, for the freedom, for the freedom that marks us out as a great country.”

As his voice was drowned out by the boos, he added: “Friends, I hear you, I am with you, I am here to fight antisemitism.”