Is British Prime Minister Keir Starmer about to resign due to internal pressure?
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure to resign. This raises the question of whether he will step down on June 22nd, following the by-election in Makerfield.
According to AFP, immediately after the results of the by-election were announced on June 19th, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his determination to remain in Downing Street, while also pledging to fight to the end in any internal power struggle within the Labour Party.
Pushing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer into a corner was a decisive victory for veteran politician Andy Burnham – also his formidable rival within the party. This win paved the way for the 56-year-old politician to openly challenge Starmer's leadership. According to British law, any candidate wishing to run for Labour leader must be a member of Parliament.
As Mr. Burnham gained stronger support from lawmakers, Prime Minister Starmer reportedly spent the weekend reflecting, and reports suggest he is expected to outline a roadmap for his resignation on June 22nd.
If Mr. Starmer does indeed leave office this year, Britain will have its seventh Prime Minister in just a decade. This represents an unprecedented rate of high-level personnel turnover in the modern political history of the "foggy island nation".
Andy Burnham, who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, has made no secret of his intention to compete for the leadership of the Labour Party. In his recent victory speech, Burnham stated that the party has "one last chance for change." If he replaces Starmer, Burnham would automatically become the next Prime Minister of the UK thanks to the Labour Party's overwhelming majority in Parliament.
Although Prime Minister Starmer insisted he would resist any attempts at overthrow, the overwhelming nature of his opponent's victory in the North West pushed internal pressure to a breaking point. In the Makerfield constituency, Burnham helped the Labour Party almost double its lead over its rivals.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle revealed to the media on June 21 that the Prime Minister is "taking time to deeply examine the current political realities, challenges, and opportunities." Speaking to Sky News, Kyle said he had a "frank" conversation with Prime Minister Starmer and confirmed that the leader is actively discussing with many parties to find a way out.
The pressure surrounding Downing Street was clearly reflected on the front pages of major newspapers published on June 21st. The Observer featured a prominent headline on its front page stating that Starmer "is expected to resign" as early as June 22nd. Meanwhile, the Sunday Telegraph quoted close allies of the leader as confirming that he was "ready" to leave.
