Report says UK PM Starmer may resign, while government insists he remains focused on duty

Britain’s Observer newspaper reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was expected to resign on Monday and had discussed a possible timetable for his departure, though a government source rejected the claims and said he remained focused on governing.

Pressure on Starmer’s leadership has intensified for months but escalated sharply after his Labour rival Andy Burnham won a parliamentary seat on Friday, giving him a platform to potentially launch a formal leadership challenge.

The Observer report said Starmer was discussing his future with his wife at his country residence, Chequers, before taking a final decision. It added that senior Labour figures expected a statement on his position as early as Monday.

However, a government source said Starmer remained committed to his role and pointed to his earlier remarks that he would continue leading the government. On Friday, Starmer said he would fight any challenge to his leadership and warned Labour against being consumed by internal disputes.

Starmer’s popularity crisis

Starmer led the centre-left Labour Party to a landslide victory in the 2024 general election but has since faced a sharp decline in public support following controversies, policy reversals and criticism that he has failed to deliver the economic improvements he promised voters.

If Starmer leaves office, Britain would have its seventh prime minister in just over a decade — the fastest turnover in nearly 200 years — reflecting widespread frustration over political instability, public service problems and issues such as illegal immigration.

According to a Reuters tally, more than 100 Labour MPs — around a quarter of the party’s representatives in the House of Commons — have publicly called for Starmer to resign or set a timeline for his exit.

The Observer report, citing unnamed sources, said Starmer had concluded his position was becoming difficult to sustain after discussions with cabinet ministers, advisers, donors and trade union leaders.

Burnham emerges as potential successor

Burnham, 56, a veteran Labour politician and current mayor of Greater Manchester, is widely viewed as one of the strongest contenders to replace Starmer if a leadership change occurs.

He strengthened his position after defeating the challenge from Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist party in a by-election for a vacant parliamentary seat. While Burnham has not formally challenged Starmer, he used his victory speech to call for a new direction for the country.

Allies of Burnham have urged Starmer to step aside voluntarily and allow a smooth transfer of power.

Former health secretary Wes Streeting has also indicated he could challenge Starmer’s leadership.

Meanwhile, The Times reported that Burnham would remove finance minister Rachel Reeves if he became prime minister, claiming his advisers believed she did not represent a sufficient change in direction. The report has not been independently verified by Reuters.