More than 100 Labour MPs sign statement against Starmer leadership challenge

More than 100 Labour MPs have signed a statement saying this is “no time for a leadership contest”, as Keir Starmer told his cabinet he would not stand down while a formal leadership contest had not been triggered.The letter, coordinated by backbenchers, has been signed by 103 MPs, including parliamentary private secretaries. Organisers say it did not come from No 10, though MPs said it had been circulated by government whips.The number of MPs exceeds those who have publicly called for the prime minister to leave – which is more than 80 MPs and three ministers who have quit – including the influential minister Jess Phillips.Those backing Starmer said it showed that the MP had the support of the majority of MPs – as well as the cabinet – though critics said it was still less than half of backbenchers.“Last week we had a devastatingly tough set of election results. It shows we have a hard job ahead to win back trust from the electorate,” the letter said.“That job needs to start today – with all of us working together to deliver the change the country needs. We must focus on that. This is no time for a leadership contest.”Starmer, in comments that in effect dared the health secretary, Wes Streeting, to launch a challenge against him, told ministers that he intended to get on with governing and noted that a threshold for a leadership challenge had not been reached.Backbenchers who have signed the letter include Perran Moon, Phil Brickell, Carolyn Harris, Sam Rushworth, Tulip Siddiq and Allison Gardner.MPs have been posting support for Starmer on Tuesday, though calls have also mounted for him to quit, showing deep divisions in the party.Cabinet members show support for Keir Starmer outside No 10 – videoJohn Slinger, the MP for Rugby, said: “A change of leadership now, or even prolonged speculation about one, will damage UK investor confidence at a moment when we cannot afford it. ⁣ I’ve been hearing from businesses with operations in Rugby and beyond, and the message is consistent.”Kevin Bonovia, the MP for Stevenage, said he agreed with Starmer that the British people wanted Labour to focus on governing. “I agree with the PM here: our focus as a Labour government must always be on the people we were elected to serve.”Juliet Campbell, the MP for Broxtowe, said: “The prime minister should focus on getting on with the job to deliver the change the UK needs. We rightly criticised the Tories for plunging this country into chaos time and time again with endless leadership contests. Labour should not do the same.”MPs who coordinated the letter said it had no signoff from No 10, in order to attempt to give the letter better credibility. But critical MPs said it showed that Starmer was still struggling for support.“Only getting 40% of your backbenchers to sign on to the blandest of statements is pathetic. I wasn’t sure where we were headed before, but it’s now clear it’s over. You can only lead if you have the broad support of your party,” one said.Cabinet ministers rallied round Starmer publicly after the meeting. The work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, said nobody had challenged the prime minister in the meeting and that the government should “carry on” with its business.The technology secretary, Liz Kendall, told reporters in Downing Street: “The prime minister talked about the challenges we faced as a country, the crisis in the Middle East and the impact on the cost of living here. This government will do what we were elected to do, which is serve the British people. The prime minister has my full support in this.”The Guardian understands that four senior cabinet ministers: Healey; Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary; Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary; and the deputy prime minister, David Lammy – were among those who spoke to Starmer on Monday.Some told the prime minister he should oversee an orderly transition of power after crushing election defeats risked ringing the death knell on his leadership.