Keir Starmer: North West Cambridgeshire MP Sam Carling calls for Prime Minister to step down

Mr Carling – whose constituency covers much of the city of Peterborough south of the River Nene, as well as other areas of Cambridgeshire – made the call following Labour’s performance in elections on Thursday.

In a statement on social media, he said: “I alongside my colleagues , was elected in July 2024 on the promise of change.

"North West Cambridgeshire has never had a Labour MP before now. I represent a deep diversity of communities – from established urban centres and newly developing city districts through to market towns and rural villages.

"Within these communities are significant problems. Among them are the cost of living, insecure housing, a lack of access to transport, infrastructure in need of repair and improvement, and the need for renewal of our public services.

"Under the Prime Minister’s leadership we have made significant strides in a number of these areas and others. I am proud of what we have delivered. But it is clear that we are not going far enough in our ambition and delivery, and nor are we communicating our successes effectively.

"Change is needed, and I have come to the conclusion that Sir Keir Starmer is not the right person to lead that change. ”As a result, I join Labour colleagues from across the United Kingdom in urging the Prime Minister to step down for the sake of our movement and the people we serve.

"We have made so much progress, but if we remain on our current course, it will not last.”

Mr Carling’s comments are in contrast to Peterborough MP Andrew Pake’s comments, made to The Local Democracy Service – where when asked if he backed Keir Starmer, he simply replied ‘yes.’

In Peterborough, Labour defended just two of the six seats it was defending in the May 7 elections, leaving it with 11 seats on the city council – and is no longer the biggest party, with the Conservatives now holding that title.