Glenrothes MP Richard Baker tells Sir Keir Starmer it’s time to quit
A second Fife Labour MP has told Sir Keir Starmer it is time to go as Prime Minister - saying “too many people no longer believe he offers our country the leadership it needs.”
Richard Baker, MP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife, added his name to a growing list of politicians piling on the pressure for a change in leadership.
Starmer was seen as a barrier to many people voting Labour at last week’s Scottish parliamentary election, and it appears it is only a matter of time before he bows to demands to set out a timescale for his departure from 10 Downing Street.
Last night, Kirkcaldy MP, Melanie Ward, called on the Prime Minister to step down, and also quit her role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to David Lammey, Deputy Prime Minister.
She said Starmer had ““lost the confidence of the public.” - a view echoed by Mr Baker.
In a statement, he said: “The Prime Minister deserves great credit for leading Labour to our General Election victory in 2024.
“Our first two years in office have seen vital achievements in creating a fairer society, from improving workers' rights, to tackling child poverty, to ensuring we did not enter a conflict in Iran costing lives and damaging our economy. However, having spoken to voters across Fife at the Scottish Parliament election, it is clear to me that too many people no longer believe he offers our country the leadership it needs.
“I am bitterly disappointed for the fantastic candidates who did not get the results they deserved at the Scottish election, and for our brilliant serving MSPs who lost their seats.
“This defeat also requires us to think afresh about our offer as Scottish Labour and our ambitions for our nation, but the reality is that too often in this election the key issues for Scotland such as our health service and education system were crowded out by an unrelenting focus on our travails at Westminster.
“With great regret, I am therefore joining calls for the Prime Minister to set a date for his departure and for the party, including our trade unions, to engage in the debate we now need for the future leadership of our party and, most importantly, our country.
“Keir Starmer has shown courage in reforming our party. Now he must show the courage to continue to serve it by resigning.”