Labour Leadership
May 10 – May 29, 2026 Updated May 29
Every published chapter of The Fold's coverage of Labour Leadership, in one place — oldest to newest, updated as the story develops.
Starmer vows '10-year project' as Catherine West sets Monday deadline for challenge
The prime minister insists he will not quit despite a 1,200-seat local election rout, calling his government a 'ten-year project'. Former Foreign Office minister Catherine West says she will trigger a leadership contest herself if no cabinet figure moves by Monday morning.
Streeting quits as health secretary, telling Starmer he has "lost confidence" in his leadership
Wes Streeting resigned from cabinet on Thursday, paving the way for a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer. In a published letter he said remaining in government had become "dishonourable and unprincipled."
Starmer faces cabinet showdown as Burnham is cleared to seek a Commons seat
Sir Keir Starmer prepared to meet his cabinet on Monday amid mounting Labour calls for him to resign or set a departure timetable after heavy local election losses. The party’s ruling body has cleared the way for Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to stand for a parliamentary seat.
Burnham sets out interventionist platform as Makerfield by-election becomes a referendum on Starmer
Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor seen as the frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer, has called for "strong public control" over industry, AI and Big Tech as he prepares to contest the June 18 Makerfield by-election. With Labour reeling from local-election losses, prediction markets now rate Burnham more likely than Starmer to be prime minister by year's end.