MP backs down from Labour leadership bid as Keir Starmer vows to prove doubters wrong

Añadido: 2026-05-11

[00:00:14][laughter] [applause] >> I know that people are frustrated [music] by the state of Britain.

[00:00:26]Frustrated by politics.

[00:00:29]And some people frustrated with me.

[00:00:34]>> [music] >> I know I have my doubters.

[00:00:37]And I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.

[00:00:43]>> [music] [music] [music] [applause] >> I know that people are frustrated by the state of Britain.

[00:01:17]Frustrated by politics.

[00:01:21]And some people frustrated with me.

[00:01:26]I know I have my doubters.

[00:01:29]And I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.

[00:01:33]So, let me start on a personal note.

[00:01:39]Like every Prime Minister, I've learned a lot in the first 2 years in the job.

[00:01:45]In terms of the policy challenges that our country faces, incremental change won't cut it.

[00:01:52]On growth, defense, Europe, energy, we need a bigger response than we anticipated in 2024.

[00:02:03]Because these are not ordinary times.

[00:02:08]And this is a political challenge just as much as it's a policy challenge.

[00:02:13]Delivery is, of course, essential.

[00:02:16]But it's not sufficient on its own to address the frustration that voters feel.

[00:02:23]We're battling reform on the greens.

[00:02:26]But at a deeper level, we're battling the despair on which they pray.

[00:02:33]Despair that they exploit and amplify.

[00:02:36]And so analysis matters, but argument matters more.

[00:02:41]Evidence matters, but so too does emotion.

[00:02:45]Stories beat spreadsheets. People need hope.

[00:02:51]So we will face up to the big challenges.

[00:02:54]And we will make the big arguments, the Labour case, that only Labour values and Labour policies can ensure our country not only weathers these storms, but emerges stronger and fairer.

[00:03:07]And the Labour case that neither Nigel Farage nor Zack Polanski offers our country the serious progressive leadership that these times demand.

[00:03:17]>> [applause] [applause] >> Of course, like every government, we've made mistakes.

[00:03:35]But we got the big political choices right.

[00:03:39]I mean, if we'd listened to the advice of other parties, right now we'd be stuck in a stand-off with Iran, having been dragged into a war that is not in our interest, and I will NEVER DO THAT.

[00:03:51]>> [applause] >> I THINK THE RESULTS LAST THURSDAY WERE awful for the Labour Party. Excellent councils lost their seats through no fault of their own or indeed City Hall, but actually because of the performance of the Labour government. I think the people in London and across the country voted in July 24 for change and we've not seen the change in sufficient scale that people voted for. So, they want the government to go to do is accelerate delivery, accelerate the pace of change and so people can start seeing the benefits of a Labour government. I'm not somebody calling for a change in leadership, but I'm calling for a change in the pace of delivery. I think the government has made some good progress in terms of legislation that will improve the quality of life of Londoners and those across the country, whether it's the Renters Rights Act, whether it's the Workers Rights changes, whether it's changes around childcare or lifting the cap on two-child benefit, but there have been mistakes and mishaps, basic mistakes and mishaps that have over overshadowed some of these achievements.

[00:05:01]At the same time, I believe the job of a government is to be a change maker and not to be administrators, not to be bureaucrats, important though that is, but to bring about the change that people voted for.

[00:05:13]We've shown in London we can bring about change to make our city greener, fairer, safer, more affordable. The government needs to do the same in quick time. I'm somebody who believes whether it's a a sports team, whether it's a political party, whether it's a business, you want the best people possible around you. Andy Burnham is an excellent politician. He's been a great mayor.

[00:05:33]He's somebody who wants to return to Parliament. I think he should be allowed to do so sooner rather than later. Look, I'm not somebody calling for a change in leadership, but I'm calling for a change in the pace of delivery.

[00:05:44]The Prime Minister, the Chancellor, and other members of the government need to accelerate the pace of delivery. Look, Catherine's a friend and a great MP and she's heartbroken, disappointed, and upset that a great council like Haringey is no longer Labour, not through the fault of the council, but because of people in Haringey are unhappy with the Labour government. I think Catherine has kick-started um, you know, the the response from the Prime Minister today recognizing that there are many colleagues who are unhappy. I'm pleased that Catherine's drawn challenge to be a leader of the Labour Party. I'm hoping now that Keir Starmer hears loud and clear what people like Catherine are saying and accelerates the pace of delivery.

[00:06:28]Look, what's quite clear is we've we're seeing a fragmentation of politics in this country. Gone are the days when there were two main parties fighting for elections. Now it's the Labour and the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, there are Greens and Reform, Independents, and other parties. As a well, this should, you know, be something we welcome as progressives.

[00:06:49]I'm somebody who believes that competition should enhance and improve your performance. Nobody should be scared of competition, but that means the Labour Party the Labour government, more importantly, needs to set out what its North Star is, needs to explain clearly what it's seeking to do, but also to show that we can bring about change. And if we don't bring about change, Nigel Farage could be the next Prime Minister and that is scary.