Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to resign on Monday. The buzz over rumours of the UK PM's resignation stems from a mix of political context, policy challenges, and the intense nature of Westminster political speculation.
The chances increased sharply on Friday when his rival, Andy Burnham, won a seat in parliament, allowing him to launch a formal leadership challenge.
Starmer led the centre-left Labour Party to a landslide victory in 2024 but became unpopular after a series of scandals and policy U-turns that have given many voters the impression that he cannot deliver the improvements to their standard of living that he promised.
According to Reuters, more than 100 elected lawmakers in the Labour Party have publicly said they want him to quit or set out a timetable for his exit.
Reports say that internal party dynamics have also played a part in the 'resignation buzz'. Managing a large governing party involves balancing different ideological wings. When internal disagreements over specific policies become public, political opponents and analysts often use those moments to question a leader's authority, adding fuel to the speculation.
Burnham, a 56-year-old career politician, is widely regarded within the Labour Party as the most likely successor to Starmer, whether through a negotiated transfer of power or a formal leadership contest.
Having built a powerful regional base as the mayor of Greater Manchester, he comfortably saw off the threat from Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK party on Friday, securing a vacant parliamentary seat in a high-stakes by-election.
While Burnham did not immediately launch a formal challenge, he used his victory speech to promise a new path for the country, as his allies urged Starmer to step down and hand over power voluntarily. Meanwhile, former Health Minister Wes Streeting has also declared his willingness to challenge the PM.
