Labour Members Lose Faith in Keir Starmer Leadership

Published: 09 May 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Pressure is rapidly mounting on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after a major poll revealed that a majority of Labour Party members no longer believe he can restore the party’s political fortunes. The findings, published in the aftermath of bruising election results across England, Scotland and Wales, have intensified internal debate over the future direction of the party and sparked renewed speculation about potential leadership challengers.

The survey, conducted among more than 1,000 Labour members by the thinktank Compass, paints a stark picture of growing frustration within the party’s grassroots. Nearly half of those questioned said Starmer should step down as Labour leader, while more than half expressed doubt that he could recover public trust and defeat Reform UK at the next general election.

The results arrive at one of the most difficult political moments of Starmer’s premiership. Labour suffered significant setbacks in local elections across England, lost further ground to the Scottish National Party in Scotland and saw Plaid Cymru end more than a century of Labour dominance in Wales. In parts of northern England, Reform UK achieved dramatic gains, taking control of councils that had long been considered Labour strongholds.

The scale of those defeats has triggered anxiety among MPs, councillors and party activists who fear Labour is losing support from both traditional working-class voters and progressive urban supporters. In London, the Green Party made notable advances in several boroughs, underlining dissatisfaction among left-leaning voters who believe Labour has drifted too far from its traditional values.

The Compass poll suggests that dissatisfaction is no longer confined to isolated factions within the party. According to the findings, 51% of members said they no longer believed Starmer was capable of turning Labour’s electoral position around. Forty-five per cent said the prime minister should resign, while more than a third admitted they had considered cancelling their party membership altogether.

For many inside Labour, the results reflect a growing disconnect between the leadership and the wider membership base. Critics argue that Starmer’s cautious political style, combined with policy compromises and internal disciplinary disputes, has left voters uninspired while failing to neutralise threats from both the political left and right.

Much of the current attention has turned toward Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who emerged as the overwhelming favourite among members when respondents were asked to rank potential successors. Burnham secured the first preference of 42% of those surveyed and recorded a net favourability rating of 72%, making him by far the most popular alternative leader within the party.

Burnham, a former cabinet minister and long-standing Labour figure, has cultivated a reputation as a vocal advocate for regional investment, social justice and local government autonomy. His leadership during crises affecting Greater Manchester, including the Covid-19 pandemic and disputes over regional funding, significantly raised his national profile and strengthened his standing among Labour supporters.

However, despite growing support within the party, Burnham currently faces a major obstacle. As mayor, he is not a sitting Member of Parliament and therefore cannot contest the Labour leadership unless he first secures a parliamentary seat. Efforts to facilitate his return to Westminster have reportedly been blocked by Labour’s National Executive Committee, which argued that triggering a Greater Manchester mayoral by-election would be financially and politically disruptive.

Several Labour MPs close to Burnham are now privately urging senior figures to establish a timetable for Starmer’s departure that would allow an orderly transition of leadership and give Burnham sufficient time to return to parliament. According to reports, at least 10 MPs have openly called for discussions about succession planning.

Among those publicly raising concerns are former transport secretary Louise Haigh, women and equalities committee chair Sarah Owen and several MPs elected during the 2024 general election campaign. Many believe Labour cannot afford prolonged uncertainty as political competition intensifies ahead of future national elections.

The growing unrest reflects wider concerns about Labour’s broader electoral strategy. Reform UK’s rise has transformed the political landscape in parts of England where Labour once relied on strong support among working-class communities. Nigel Farage’s party has capitalised on frustration surrounding immigration, economic pressures and distrust toward mainstream politics.

Meanwhile, Labour’s losses in Scotland and Wales have reignited long-standing questions about the party’s identity across the United Kingdom. In Scotland, the SNP secured a historic fifth consecutive electoral victory, reinforcing its dominance despite years of political turbulence. In Wales, Plaid Cymru’s success marked a symbolic collapse of Labour’s traditional authority in one of its historic heartlands.

Political analysts say these simultaneous setbacks have deepened fears that Labour is struggling to maintain a coherent coalition of voters. Some members believe the leadership’s focus on centrist messaging has alienated progressive supporters without successfully rebuilding trust among socially conservative voters who previously abandoned the party.

Compass deputy director Lena Swedlow said the polling reflected a clear demand for both political and organisational change inside Labour. She argued that recent election results demonstrated widespread dissatisfaction with the current direction of government and warned that restoring public confidence would require credible leadership capable of uniting the party.

Swedlow also stressed the importance of stability during a period of economic uncertainty both domestically and internationally. Rising living costs, public service pressures and global instability have created an increasingly difficult political environment, intensifying scrutiny of government performance.

Despite the growing criticism, Starmer retains significant institutional support within the parliamentary party and the wider Labour leadership structure. Allies argue that changing leader so soon after entering government would create instability and risk undermining Labour’s credibility with voters seeking economic and political certainty.

Supporters of the prime minister also point out that governing parties frequently experience electoral setbacks during difficult economic periods and argue that Labour still has time to recover before the next general election. Some senior figures believe the current unrest reflects frustration following disappointing local results rather than an irreversible collapse of confidence.

Nevertheless, the poll results indicate that the mood among party members has shifted dramatically in recent months. In October, only 28% of members believed Starmer should resign if Labour performed poorly in May’s elections. The latest findings therefore represent a sharp deterioration in internal confidence over a relatively short period.

Within Westminster, speculation about succession scenarios is already intensifying. While Burnham currently dominates discussions among members, other senior figures may also emerge should a future leadership contest become inevitable. However, Labour officials insist there are no immediate plans for a leadership transition.

The coming months are now likely to prove crucial for Starmer’s authority. With Labour facing challenges from Reform UK, the Greens, nationalist parties and disillusioned traditional supporters, the prime minister faces mounting pressure to demonstrate that he can reconnect with voters and restore confidence both inside and outside the party.

For now, the poll serves as a stark warning sign for Labour’s leadership — and a reminder that political success can quickly unravel when members lose faith in the direction of their party.