STORY: Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to quell a mounting rebellion in his party on Monday (May 11) by vowing to prove the doubters wrong and stay in power to avoid plunging Britain into a new political crisis.

A growing number of Labour lawmakers have turned on Starmer after his party suffered the worst local election results for a governing party in more than three decades last week, prompting a former junior minister to threaten to seek a leadership contest if he fails to offer radical change.

"I know that people are frustrated by the state of Britain. Frustrated by politics, and some people are frustrated with me," he said in a speech in London. "I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong. And I will."

In his speech, Starmer announced that Britain would bring forward legislation to get powers to fully nationalise British Steel, saying a commercial sale had not been possible after the government stepped in to stop its furnaces closing last year.

Starmer also said he was looking for an immediate "big leap" towards closer ties with the European Union, and described that as a platform to build upon in the future.

However, he did not respond directly when asked whether he would rule out promising membership of the EU single market or customs union going in to the next election, due in 2029.

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UK's Starmer vows to prove doubters wrong and stay in power

VIDEO SHOWS: BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER DELIVERING A SPEECH AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM MEDIA

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 11, 2026) (UK POOL - Broadcast: No use UK. Digital: No use UK, except UK newspapers)

1. BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER STANDING AT PODIUM

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

" I know that people are frustrated by the state of Britain, frustrated by politics, and some people frustrated with me. I know I have my doubters, and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.”

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“The election results last week were tough, very tough. We lost some brilliant Labour representatives. That hurts. And it should hurt. I get it. I feel it. And I take responsibility. But it's not just about taking responsibility for the results. It's about taking responsibility to explain how, as a political and electoral force, we will be better and do better in the months and years ahead.”

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“We are not just facing dangerous times, but dangerous opponents, very dangerous opponents. This hurts not just because Labour has done badly, but because if we don't get this right, our country will go down a very dark path. So just as I take responsibility for the results, I also take responsibility for delivering the change that we promised for a stronger and fairer Britain that we must build.”

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“Steel is the ultimate sovereign capability. Strong nations in a world like this need to make steel. That's why we're backing steel in Port Talbot and across the UK. But in Scunthorpe, we've been negotiating with the current owner, and a commercial sale has not been possible. And now a public interest test could be met. So I can announce that legislation will be brought forward this week to give the government powers, subject to that public interest test, to take full national ownership of British Steel.”

10. WHITE FLASH

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“Public ownership in the public interest, urgent government on the side of working people, making Britain stronger with the hope of industrial renewal. That is a Labour choice.”

12. WHITE FLASH

13.(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“And so, at the next EU summit, I will set a new direction for Britain. The last government was defined by breaking our relationship with Europe. This Labour government will be defined by rebuilding our relationship with Europe, by putting Britain at the heart of Europe, so that we are stronger on the economies, stronger on trade, stronger on defence, you name it. Because standing shoulder to shoulder with the countries that most share our interests, our values, and our enemies, that is the right choice for Britain. That is the Labour choice.”

14. WHITE FLASH

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“I want to make a better offer for our young people. Restore that hope, that freedom, that sense of possibility. And so I want an ambitious youth experience scheme to be at the heart of our new arrangement with the EU, so that our young people can work and study and live in Europe. A symbol of a stronger relationship and a fairer future with our closest allies. That is the Labour choice.”

16. WHITE FLASH

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“What I want to do is take a big leap forward with the EU-UK summit this year, and take us closer, both on trade, the economy, defence, and security. And that will then be a platform on which we can build as we go forward. But as we do that, I strongly believe we've got to turn our back on the arguments of the past, not open old grievances, but look forward together to how we make this country stronger, how we make this country fairer. And so that's the approach that I will take.”

18. WHITE FLASH

19. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“Every child should have the opportunity to go as far as their talent or effort takes them. I mean every child. I mean the kids who are growing up in poverty, the kids who have special educational needs, the kids who can't get a job, and the kids who are ignored, frankly, because society often only puts those who go to university on a pedestal. We don't really see anything else as success and that is wrong, deeply wrong. So we will go much further on our investment in apprenticeships, in technical excellence colleges, in special educational needs. We will make sure that every young person struggling to find a job will get a guaranteed offer of a job, training, or work placement.”

20. WHITE FLASH

21. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

REPORTER (OFF CAMERA): “If one of your MPs launches a contest, a leadership bid against you, will you fight it? And the wider one is, do you think that Britain is ungovernable? And if so, why? And who's to blame? The media? Your MPs? The government? You?"

"Yes and no. No, I'm not going to walk away in relation to the first part of your question for the reasons I've set out. And no, I don't think Britain is ungovernable.”

22. WHITE FLASH

23. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

“In relation to Andy Burnham, obviously any future decision is for the NEC (National Executive Committee). Andy's doing a great job as mayor in Manchester. And I actually work really well with Andy, and I'll give you two examples. On Northern Powerhouse Rail, which is really important for the northwest, we are working together on that project. But equally, we've stood together to support Manchester, the community, when we had the terrible attack on a synagogue last year, Andy was the first person I phoned. I went straight to Manchester to work with him on our response. So we work very well together, but the actual decision would be one for the NEC.”

24. STARMER WALKING AWAY, AUDIENCE STANDING AND APPLAUDING