Keir Starmer is expected to announce his resignation as prime minister today, following intense pressure from Labour MPs to make way for Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. The move comes after a disastrous week for the government, capped by Burnham’s emphatic victory in the Makerfield byelection, where he leveraged his popularity and anti-Starmer sentiment to secure more votes than Reform and Restore combined.
More than 200 Labour MPs—over half the parliamentary party—are reportedly willing to nominate Burnham for the leadership, making a coronation seem inevitable. Senior cabinet members, including foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, energy secretary Ed Miliband, home secretary Shabana Mahmood, and transport secretary Heidi Alexander, have urged Starmer to step aside in an orderly fashion.
Starmer’s allies had previously briefed that he was “hellbent” on fighting any challenge, but the mood shifted dramatically after a report by senior political correspondent Peter Walker predicted Starmer would set out his timetable for leaving office. Downing Street did not challenge the story, and Donald Trump later posted that Starmer “will resign,” causing further embarrassment.
Burnham has remained silent but is expected to travel to Westminster today. Timing is crucial: an announcement today would pre-empt tomorrow’s scheduled cabinet meeting, where at least half of ministers want Starmer gone, and after which resignations are expected if he does not step down.
Starmer’s tenure has seen him become the most unpopular prime minister in memory, with Labour MPs increasingly convinced he is not up to the job. The focus now is on ensuring a dignified exit to avoid repeating the chaos of Tory leadership contests.
