A second British minister has stepped down from government as pressure intensifies on Prime Minister Keir Starmer following the Labour Party’s weak performance in last week’s local elections.
Jess Phillips, who serves as parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Home Office, confirmed she would be leaving her position, according to British media reports on Tuesday.
Her resignation comes shortly after mounting political unease within the ruling party and renewed calls for leadership change.
Earlier on the same day, Miatta Fahnbulleh, a junior minister in the housing and communities department, also resigned from her post and publicly urged Starmer to set out a clear timetable for leaving office.
Phillips, who has been part of the government team at the Home Office, said in her resignation letter that she could no longer remain under the current leadership.
She cited dissatisfaction with the direction of government policy and expressed concern over the party’s current trajectory.
“I want a Labour government to work and I will strive as I always have for its success and popularity, but I’m not seeing the change I think I, and the country expect,” she wrote.
Her departure adds to growing political tension within the Labour Party, which has been facing internal scrutiny after its disappointing electoral outing.
British media reports also indicated that Prime Minister Keir Starmer told his cabinet during a meeting earlier on Tuesday that he intends to remain in office.
According to the reports, no formal challenge to his leadership has yet been initiated within the Labour Party despite rising dissatisfaction among some members.
The latest resignations are expected to deepen debate within the party over its direction and leadership stability in the coming weeks.
