The Prime Minister has made two new appointments as calls for him to stand down grow following the local elections
Sir Keir Starmer has appointed one of his predecessors as an advisor(Image: Getty Images)
Gordon Brown has been handed a job by Sir Keir Starmer as he looks to fend off challenges to his leadership.
There have been calls for the Prime Minister to stand down, or announce a timetable for his departure, from a growing number of MPs following the party’s disastorus local election results.
The party lost more than 1,300 seats on English councils, including at town halls across Greater Manchester. Previously Labour-run Tameside and Oldham councils fell into no overall control, while the party suffered heavy losses in Wigan, Manchester, Salford and Rochdale.
Labour also lost control of the Welsh Senedd for the first time in their history and fared poorly in Scotland.
Cabinet ministers have rallied around him, whilst the party’s Deputy Leader Lucy Powell gave him her backing during a round of brodacast interviews this morning (Saturday, May 9).
Gordon Brown is returning to politics(Image: PA)
As part of his bid to change the narrative, Mr Starmer has today handed roles to two esteemed party stalwarts. Former Labour Prime Minister, and Chancellor, Gordon Brown has been appointed as a special envoy on global finance.
Downing Street said Mr Starmer has committed to boosting the country’s security and resilience and “in this role, Gordon Brown will advise on how global finance cooperation can help to achieve this.”
Mr Brown was seen meeting Mr Starmer in Downing Street and shaking hands with him on the doorstep of Number 10.
He has also appointed the party’s former Deputy Leader Baroness Harriet Harman as his adviser on women and girls.
Harriet Harman has also been given a new role by Sir Keir Starmer(Image: Getty Images)
Lady Harman will work with ministers on work to tackle violence against women and girls, improving job prospects and increasing representation in parliament and public life.
She will work with the head of the civil service to “drive a shift in culture” across the civil service and ministerial offices, No 10 said. Lady Harman will report directly to the Prime Minister in the unpaid part-time role.
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier that Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is being touted to rival Mr Starmer’s leadership, had a “huge amount to offer” the party but added: “I don’t want to see a leadership challenge that’s not how we operate in the Labour Party… We don’t do hostile takeovers in the Labour Party, it’s not what we’re about, it’s not what people want to see, it’s not what our members want to see.”