Four of Sheffield’s Labour MPs have suggested Keir Starmer should resign, to allow Labour the best chance of winning the next general election, after a disastrous set of local elections for the party.

Labour lost eight seats in Sheffield, taking their total down to 25, and so despite having 40% of the votes after the 2023 election, their percentage after the 2026 election has dropped to a mere 20.2%.

Clive Betts, who is the MP for Sheffield South East, believes the Prime Minister should resign. 

Mr Betts has said that his constituents have told him: “I might vote Labour in the future… but not if Keir is in charge.”

Mr Betts added: “If we want to win the next election we’ve got to find a way in an orderly manner for Kier to step down willingly.”

Other Sheffield MPs calling for Starmer to step down include Abtisam Mohammed and Olivia Blake, who has said: “My heart goes out to all the hardworking councillors – they have been punished for decisions that weren’t taken by them.

“I think we are kidding ourselves if we think that Keir Starmer will be leading us into the next election.”

Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, said: “I think what is abundantly clear is that unless the government delivers significant and urgent change, then the Prime Minister can not lead us into another election.”

Overall, only 33% of residents in Sheffield ended up voting in the elections, including just 20% in the city centre. 

Similar turn outs were reported in Leeds (33%), Newcastle (38%) and Manchester (32.5%), indicating that in many cities with multiple universities, the election turn out is low, which may be due to a lack of student voting. 

Some students said they were unaware of the elections, including University of Sheffield first year student Daniel Mohammedbhai, who said: “I didn’t even know they were happening.”

Some others simply said they forgot. 

Local resident Eliska Skinner said: “It’s good for people with experience like middle aged people to vote but it’s also important for people who have a fresh perspective to vote.

“They’re not going to have much bias on what has happened previously and they are the future of this country.”