LONDON — Prime Minister Keir Starmer will use a speech on Monday to argue that he can change course and revive his government's fortunes after heavy Labour Party losses in local elections across England. Dozens of Labour lawmakers have called for Starmer's resignation following the results.

Labour also suffered heavy losses in legislative votes in Scotland and Wales, and shed votes to both Reform UK and the Green Party in the local contests in England. Starmer became prime minister in a landslide victory less than two years ago, and he told The Observer that he wants to remain in office for a decade.

Catherine West, a former junior minister, vowed to try to trigger a leadership contest unless Starmer delivers a strong speech on Monday. She acknowledged that she does not currently have the support of the 81 colleagues needed to trigger a contest.

"Working people sent us a message," West said. "We have to listen to that, and we have to change and we have to do it quickly."

Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner also pressed Starmer to act, while stopping short of calling for him to step aside. "The prime minister must now meet the moment and set out the change our country needs," Rayner said.

Rayner, Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham have not called for Starmer to resign. Josh Simons wrote that Starmer has lost the country and should oversee an orderly transition to a new prime minister.

The government has made repeated policy U-turns on issues including welfare reform. British political parties can change their leader midterm without holding a new general election, meaning any leadership contest would not automatically trigger a general election.