Jess Phillips resigns from Starmer's government as UK Prime Minister vows to 'fight on'

"Ms Phillips said: "I want to start by first saying that we have worked closely together on Violence Against Women and Girls for many years and I have no doubt you have genuine knowledge and desire to rectify this dreadful social ill. We have started to make steps towards change whilst in government and I have been grateful for your support.""

""However, it would be remiss of me not to say that real change and direction in this area usually came from threats made by me in light of catastrophic mistakes. The Mandelson saga whenever it bubbled up made Number 10 kick into gear on the subject in order to prove our credentials. I will never waste a crisis to make advancements for women and girls and so demands were made and some were met.""

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

"According to Downing Street, Mr Starmer told his Cabinet: "As I said yesterday, I take responsibility for these election results and I take responsibility for delivering the change we promised." "The past 48 hours have been destabilising for government and that has a real economic cost for our country and for families." "The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered." "The country expects us to get on with governing" and "that is what I am doing"."

A growing number of Labour MPs are urging the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his departure, with the count reaching 75. Two ministerial resignations have added to political instability over election results. The Prime Minister told his Cabinet that he takes responsibility for the results and for delivering the change promised, and said the Labour Party’s leadership challenge process has not been triggered. He said the past 48 hours have been destabilising and have an economic cost for the country and families. He also said the country expects the government to get on with governing and that he is doing so. A letter reported by Sky News praised efforts on Violence Against Women and Girls while criticizing reliance on crises to drive real change.

Read at Irish Independent