Starmer refuses to go: Crazy? Or courageous?
5/12/202640 min
Anyone who thought Keir Starmer was about to succumb to pressure from the 80 strong list of MPs who turned against him were in for a shock this morning when they found a PM defiant and refusing to even discuss a leadership challenge. Can he hold them off? Is his position more or less perilous today? And what is Andy Burnham doing at Euston?
Jess Philips has become the most senior minister to resign - leaving a devastating letter in her wake. Will the King's speech stop the political regicide for 24 hours? Or are Starmer’s critics just building up steam?
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsLewis Goodall· Host0:00
[digital music] This is a Global Player original podcast.
Emily Maitlis· Host0:05
Keir Starmer has defied his critics and told them he's going nowhere. Is that stubbornness or is it bravery?
Lewis Goodall· Host0:12
His colleagues believe that he is the instability, that his lack of politics, his lack of direction is what is causing- Mm ... the lack of authority for Labour to govern.
Emily Maitlis· Host0:21
Does he feel less like Labour has left the, the nation another psychodrama?
Lewis Goodall· Host0:25
Everyone knows that a lot of the people who have called on him to go are basically Wes' people. Streeting has pulled the lever. It's now or never. Is he gonna go for it?
Emily Maitlis· Host0:35
What happens now?
Speaker 20:36
The tone, it feels, has shifted even throughout the morning. Well, I, I, I mean, I also think, I, I think Darren Jones had a really diff- Wes Streeting, did you call, sir? Wes Streeting, did you call, did you call on Starmer to resign? Lisa Nandy. And there we have Lisa Nandy.
Emily Maitlis· Host0:54
Wes Streeting is being asked for comment. Wes Streeting has said nothing for days. So is Wes Streeting at the center of whatever movement is currently going on? And is the Prime Minister waiting for him to challenge?
Lewis Goodall· Host1:11
Prime Minister told his Cabinet colleagues this morning, in no uncertain terms, that he is going nowhere. Has Keir Starmer faced down his critics? Welcome to the News Agents. [news jingle] The News Agents.