U.K.'s Starmer faces calls to resign after disastrous local elections

World U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces calls to resign after disastrous local elections May 9, 2026 / 9:54 AM EDT / AP Add CBS News on Google British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to revive his struggling government but faced growing calls to resign after a disastrous set of local and regional elections for his Labour Party.As the final results came in Saturday, Labour had lost 1,000 local council seats across England and was booted from power in Wales after 27 years. Anti-immigration party Reform U.K. won almost 1,300 seats across England, came second in Wales and made significant gains in Scotland.It was a blunt verdict from voters in elections widely seen as an unofficial referendum on Starmer, whose popularity has plummeted since he led the center-left party to power less than two years ago.Starmer insisted he would not walk away and "plunge the country into chaos," and the dire election results did not produce an immediate challenge to his leadership."The right thing to do is rebuild and show the path forward," Starmer said Saturday. "That's what I'm going to do in the coming days."Labour lawmakers urge Starmer to set timetable for departureStarmer's Cabinet colleagues expressed support, and none of the high-profile Labour politicians considered potential challengers has made a move. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham are keeping quiet for now.But a growing number of Labour lawmakers urged the prime minister to set a timetable for his departure this year. British politics allows parties to change leader midterm without the need for a new election. "There has to be a timetable," legislator Clive Betts told CBS News partner BBC News. Another lawmaker, Tony Vaughan, said there should be an "orderly transition of leadership."Starmer tried to demonstrate change on Saturday by bringing back two figures from past Labour governments. He made former Prime Minister Gordon B...