Starmer refuses to go: Crazy? Or courageous?
The News Agents
Global
4.1 • 5.4K Ratings
🗓️ 12 May 2026
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Anyone who thought Keir Starmer was about to succumb to pressure from the 80 strong list of MPs who turned against him were in for a shock this morning when they found a PM defiant and refusing to even discuss a leadership challenge. Can he hold them off? Is his position more or less perilous today? And what is Andy Burnham doing at Euston?
Jess Philips has become the most senior minister to resign - leaving a devastating letter in her wake. Will the King's speech stop the political regicide for 24 hours? Or are Starmer’s critics just building up steam?
The News Agents is a Global Production.
The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | The Newsagents podcast is brought to you by HSBC UK, opening up a world of opportunity. |
| 0:09.1 | This is a global player original podcast. |
| 0:12.5 | Kirstama has defied his critics and told them he's going nowhere. |
| 0:16.9 | Is that stubbornness or is it bravery? |
| 0:19.5 | His colleagues believe that he is the instability, that his lack of politics, his lack of direction |
| 0:24.7 | is what is causing the lack of authority for Labour to govern. |
| 0:28.7 | Does he feel less like Labour has left the nation of the psychodrama? |
| 0:32.6 | Everyone knows that a lot of the people who have called on him to go are basically Wess's people. |
| 0:39.0 | Streeting has pulled the lever. |
| 0:40.2 | Now or never, is he going to go for it? |
| 0:42.3 | What happens now? |
| 0:44.0 | The tone it feels has shifted even throughout the morning. |
| 0:46.8 | I mean, I also think, I think Darren James had a really different... |
| 0:51.6 | West Streeting! Did you call... |
| 0:53.6 | West Streeting? Did you call on Starma to resign? |
| 0:59.1 | Lisa Nandy. |
| 1:01.7 | West Streeting is being asked for comment. |
| 1:05.2 | West Streeting has said nothing for days. |
| 1:09.0 | So is West Streeting at the centre of whatever movement is currently going on? |
| 1:15.3 | And is the Prime Minister waiting for him to challenge? |
| 1:18.2 | Prime Minister told his Cabinet colleagues this morning, in no uncertain terms that he is going nowhere. |
| 1:25.4 | Has Keistama face down his critics? |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 5 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Global, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Global and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.