Keir Starmer speaks to media as he reacts to the local Council Election results at AFC Wimbledon on May 9.Keir Starmer’s attempt to save his premiership with a make-or-break speech went down like a lead balloon on Monday.
The prime minister insisted he would prove his doubters wrong as he tries to turn around Labour’s fortunes after last week’s election drubbing.
He pledged to rebuild the UK’s ties with the EU after Brexit and insisted he would put the country “at the heart of Europe”.
The PM also confirmed plans to nationalise British Steel.
Amid mounting speculation that he will face an imminent leadership challenge, Starmer said: “I know people are frustrated by the state of Britain, frustrated by politics, and some people, frustrated by me.
“I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.”
However, the initial reaction to the speech was overwhelmingly negative, with one former minister telling HuffPost UK it was “utterly inadequate”.
Former minister Catherine West said she would press ahead with her plan to trigger a leadership contest.
Labour MP David Smith reacted by calling on Starmer to resign, as did fellow backbencher Tony Vaughan.
After the speech, I still believe we need an orderly transition before the next local elections.
I welcome the shift in PM’s response to the idea of Andy Burnham coming back in. It would be incredibly unjust to block the most popular Labour politician in the country from…
Other responses on social media were similarly unforgiving.
IS THAT IT?!!!!!! No details? 'This Labour government will be defined by rebuilding our relationship with Europe, by putting Britain at the heart of Europe'.
— Anand Menon (@anandmenon.bsky.social)2026-05-11T09:25:56.304ZStarmer is wielding the "I realise people are frustrated with me" line as if it were a secret, clever weapon. But the thing with owning up to weakness or mistakes is that, if this is followed by the same things a person has been saying already, the mea culpa isn't that convincing
— Alona Ferber (@aloner.bsky.social)2026-05-11T09:50:44.117ZA desperate speech full of meaningless buzzwords delivered by a tired, middle-aged man who looks like he lost his jacket and tie on the way to the drab windowless little room from which it is being broadcast is just so Yookay 2026.
— Stefan Roberts (@stefanroberts) May 11, 2026It is remarkable how little content there is in this speech.
Just meaningless slogans.
"Stories over spreadsheets"
"Strength through fairness"
Woeful. Meaningless waffle.
Claps from a few staffers - but have heard that those who were allocated a bunch of tickets couldn't even give them away. MPs at best bored, non-plussed, most still angry he's so totally tone deaf. Nobody I know has been won over by this.
Staggering that in his big speech, it's just vibes rather than policy
— (@kam1nsk1.bsky.social)2026-05-11T09:27:48.577ZStarmer speech: Brexit has made the country poorer and weaker... but I’m sticking to my red lines and won’t lead the UK back into the single market or customs union i.e. no growth. Voters who just told him to go are going to get a lot more of the same with a lot more energy. A recipe for disaster
— Grahame Lucas (@grahamelucas.bsky.social)2026-05-11T10:02:27.917ZIt's just a bit embarrassing really. The big much-hyped Europe policy is: we'll be better mates in a way I cannot describe or define.
— Ian Dunt (@iandunt.bsky.social)2026-05-11T09:45:25.886ZSubscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
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