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Posted By Admin On May 12th, 2026

The political pressure surrounding Keir Starmer intensified on Tuesday after safeguarding minister Jess Phillips resigned from the government, criticising the Labour leadership and accusing it of lacking the determination required to drive meaningful reforms.

Phillips announced her resignation in a strongly-worded letter, arguing that intentions alone were insufficient to address the country’s growing challenges.

“Deeds not words matter,” she stated, as she accused the administration of failing to act decisively on key issues.

Her departure represents another setback for Starmer, whose leadership has come under increasing scrutiny following internal divisions within the Labour Party.

The prime minister has recently faced mounting criticism after several lawmakers publicly urged him to step aside in the wake of disappointing election results and concerns over government policies.

Despite her resignation, Phillips acknowledged Starmer’s personal commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, an issue both politicians had worked on closely over the years.

“I think you are a good man fundamentally, who cares about the right things. However, I have seen first-hand how that is not enough,” she wrote.

Phillips also criticised what she described as excessive caution within Downing Street, arguing that the government’s reluctance to confront difficult political issues had slowed progress on important reforms.

“The desire not to have an argument means we rarely make an argument, leaving opportunities for progress stalled and delayed,” she stated.

She further claimed that improvements in safeguarding and women’s protection policies often occurred only after internal disagreements and political pressure forced action from the government.

According to Phillips, controversies involving former Labour strategist Peter Mandelson and other disputes within the party repeatedly pushed Number 10 to strengthen its stance on women’s issues.

“I will never waste a crisis to make advancements for women and girls,” she added.

The resignation comes amid growing unrest within the Labour government over several controversial policies that have drawn criticism from party members and sections of the public.

Starmer’s administration has faced backlash in recent months over proposed cuts to winter fuel support for pensioners, planned reductions in disability benefits, rising living costs and accusations that Labour has drifted away from its traditional social welfare principles.

Tensions escalated further after Labour recorded poor results in recent local elections across England and Wales, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK made gains in a number of traditional Labour strongholds.

Source: https://dailypost.ng/2026/05/12/uk-pm-starmer-faces-fresh-blow-as-minister-jess-phillips-resigns/