British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to resign and present a timetable for leaving as soon as Monday, the Observer reported on Saturday, in what would be a major political shock in the United Kingdom. According to the paper, Starmer concluded that continuing in office is no longer sustainable after talks with ministers, advisers, donors and trade union leaders. Labour insiders were quoted as expecting a clear statement on his political future as early as Sunday, although a government source said he was still working normally and pointed to his earlier insistence that he had no intention of quitting.
Starmer, 63, was said to have discussed stepping aside with his wife at Chequers, the prime minister’s country residence. Just on Friday, he said he would fight any attempt to remove him and urged Labour not to be torn apart by internal battles. His political rise began after a legal career, including serving as director of public prosecutions for England and Wales from 2008 to 2013, later entering Parliament in 2015 and taking over Labour after its 2019 defeat. He steered the party back toward the political center and led it to a big victory in 2024, ending 14 years in opposition.
His standing has eroded over the past two years amid crises, policy reversals and criticism that he failed to deliver the improved living standards he promised. One blow came in February, when he admitted appointing Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States despite being aware during the vetting process of Mandelson’s close ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The pressure intensified after Andy Burnham won a parliamentary seat on Friday, potentially making it possible for him to run for Labour leader.
Burnham, 56, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is viewed by many as Starmer’s likeliest successor and the most popular possible Labour leadership contender, though he has not formally declared a challenge. Reuters said more than 100 Labour MPs, about a quarter of the party’s Commons delegation, have publicly called for Starmer to resign or at least name a departure date. The Times reported that Burnham’s allies are already discussing possible cabinet changes, including replacing Chancellor Rachel Reeves, though Reuters said it could not confirm that report. Former health secretary Wes Streeting was also mentioned as a possible successor, and said he would be willing to run.
