Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain is under pressure following heavy losses in local elections. He faces calls to resign from numerous Labour Party lawmakers. Despite this, Mr. Starmer expressed his intention to remain in office during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning.

Option 1: Defy Calls to Resign

On Tuesday, Mr. Starmer took a firm stance against critics. He challenged them to gather enough support, at least 81 Labour lawmakers, to trigger a leadership contest. So far, no one has come forward to contest his leadership publicly. Fear of appearing disloyal might be preventing potential challengers from emerging. Mr. Starmer cautioned that a leadership contest could harm the country and contribute to economic instability.

Option 2: Set Out a Timetable to Resign

Another option presented to Mr. Starmer is to establish a clear timetable for his departure. Several Labour lawmakers have advocated for this approach. It would allow time for a leadership contest to designate his successor. Setting a timeline may help reassure financial markets about the government’s short-term direction, especially amid the Middle East crisis. This path would render Mr. Starmer a caretaker prime minister until his successor is appointed.