Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Labour) appointed former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former Deputy Leader Harriet Harman as advisers on Thursday, May 7 [1, 2].

The appointments follow a series of heavy election losses for the Labour Party across England, Scotland, and Wales. The move signals an attempt by Starmer to stabilize his government by leaning on experienced party veterans after a historic defeat in Wales [1, 2].

The decision came after meetings held at 10 Downing Street on the day of the local elections [1, 2]. These contests took place across 136 local authorities in England [3]. The results indicated a shift in voter sentiment, with reports that Labour lost Sunderland to Reform, as Nigel Farage's party made gains [4].

Internal pressure within the party has intensified following the results. More than 20 Labour MPs have called for Starmer to establish a resignation timetable [1]. This internal friction threatens the cohesion of the administration as it grapples with the electoral fallout.

Lucy Powell, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, addressed the internal tension regarding the Prime Minister's position. Powell said the government would look "ludicrous" if it turned in on itself [1].

The local elections saw millions of people in England, Scotland, and Wales cast their votes on Thursday [2]. The scale of the losses has prompted a strategic pivot, bringing Brown and Harman back into the inner circle to provide guidance on party unity, and electoral recovery [1, 2].

“The government would look "ludicrous" if it turned in on itself.”

The appointment of Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman suggests that Keir Starmer is facing a crisis of confidence both from the electorate and within his own parliamentary party. By recalling figures from the New Labour era, Starmer is attempting to bridge ideological divides and project stability. However, the demand for a resignation timetable from over 20 MPs indicates that veteran advice may not be enough to quell internal dissent if the party cannot reverse its downward trend in local strongholds.