British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced his intention to step down from his post, after mounting pressure within the Labour Party and growing calls to make way for his top rival Andy Burnham to lead the party and government, British sources and media predicted.
The Guardian newspaper reported that Starmer is now expected to announce a timetable for his exit from the prime ministership, after a growing number of Labour MPs concluded that his continuation in the post was no longer politically viable, especially after Burnham's victory in the by-election in the constituency of Milkfield, allowing him to return to parliament and open the door to a direct challenge to the party's leadership.
Foreign Secretary calls on Starmer to step down
According to media reports, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Starmer that he should step down, while other senior cabinet figures, including Home Secretary Shabana Mohamud, called for a clear timetable for him to leave the prime ministership. Other ministers have also reportedly called for an orderly transition of power rather than continued uncertainty within the ruling party.
Despite the pressure, Business Secretary Peter Kyle declined to confirm Starmer's intention to resign, saying only that the prime minister was spending the weekend "thinking about the political realities he faces", without revealing details of what is going on inside decision-making circles.
Starmer has repeatedly said in recent months that he will not resign voluntarily and will face any challenge to his leadership within the party, arguing that the constant talk of his departure is detrimental to the stability of the country and affects the performance of the government.
However, a series of political setbacks for the Labour Party since the start of the year, as well as disappointing election results and declining government popularity in opinion polls, have led to a widening of opposition within the party, with dozens of MPs reportedly calling for his departure, while Burnham's supporters believe they now have the support of a large bloc of Labour MPs.
Burnham. The Frontrunner
Burnham, a former cabinet minister and mayor of the Greater Manchester area, is seen as the front-runner to succeed Starmer and his victory in the last by-election has cemented his standing within the party, where his supporters see him as capable of restoring voter confidence and reuniting Labour ahead of the next general election.
Former health secretary Wes Streeting is also a top aspirant for the party's leadership, announcing his willingness to run for the leadership if the door is officially opened, but most current political assessments give Burnham a clear advantage within the party's parliamentary bloc.
Starmer continues his government duties
The current crisis represents the most serious challenge facing the Labour government since it came to power after the 2024 general election. After a landslide victory that brought Starmer to Downing Street, his popularity gradually plummeted due to economic crises, internal discord and accusations that the government was reluctant to deliver on its reform promises.
Labour leaders also fear that the continuation of the internal conflict could give additional impetus to political rivals, led by British Reform Party leader Niall Farage, who some polls suggest is benefiting from the current government's declining popularity.
Despite the intensity of media reports, there has been no official announcement from the Prime Minister's Office confirming or categorically denying the resignation, and a government source confirmed that Starmer remains "focused on performing his government duties", noting that he has previously vowed to counter any attempt to remove him from the leadership.
However, all eyes in Britain are on the Prime Minister's residence in Downing Street, amid growing expectations that the country will witness a decisive announcement that will open a new page in British politics and put the Labour Party ahead of a transition that could end with Burnham becoming the party leader and government in a few weeks.
Comments (0)