First junior minister resigns and calls on Starmer to set out departure plan

The first minister has resigned from Keir Starmer’s government, piling pressure on the beleaguered Labour leader to quit.

Housing, communities and local government minister Miatta Fahnbulleh told the UK prime minister “to do the right thing for the country and the party, and set a timetable for an orderly transition” as the public had lost trust in him because of issues such as the scrapping of the winter fuel payment.

Fahnbulleh is seen as a close ally of energy secretary Ed Miliband, who reportedly told Starmer to consider stepping down last week.

Her resignation comes as Starmer faces a fraught Cabinet meeting, with some ministers said to be urging the prime minister to go.

Some 75 of Labour’s 403 MPs have so far called for Starmer to set out a timetable for his resignation.

In a statement posted on X, Fahnbulleh said: “Whilst progress has been made, we have not acted with the vision, pace and ambition that our mandate for change demands of us. Nor have we governed as a Labour Party clear about our values and strong in our convictions.

“Mistakes such as the winter fuel payment and cuts to the support provided to disabled people have left too many of my constituents doubting our mission.

“And the message on the doorstep was clear: you, Prime Minister, have lost the trust and confidence of the public.

I urge you to do the right thing for the country and the party, and set a timetable for an orderly transition so that a new team can deliver the change we promised the country

“Our country faces enormous challenges and people are crying out for the scale of change that this requires.

“The public does not believe that you can lead this change – and nor do I.

“Therefore, I urge you to do the right thing for the country and the party, and set a timetable for an orderly transition so that a new team can deliver the change we promised the country.”

Earlier, one of Starmer’s closest aides declined to say whether he would lead his party into the next general election.

Cabinet minister Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, said: “I’m not going to get ahead of any decision the PM may or may not take.”

All eyes will be on whether Fahnbulleh’s departure prompts similar moves by colleagues, potentially triggering a wave of resignations similar to the exodus that led to Tory premier Boris Johnson’s downfall.