British PM Sir Keir Starmer expected to resign
British PM Sir Keir Starmer expected to resign
The deeply unpopular British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is widely expected to resign or lay out a timetable for his departure as early as today, after pressure built steadily over the weekend for him to go.
The Labour leader and his allies have been adamant for weeks that he would fight for his job and stand in any leadership contest, but the government’s tone shifted significantly on Sunday.
Sir Keir’s leadership is on the brink after Labour candidate Andy Burnham’s resounding win in a by-election in Makerfield the North of England.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, who polls consistently declare to be the UK’s most popular politician, had said that if he won in Makerfield he would challenge the PM for the top job.
Polling suggested the by-election would be a close contest against the candidate from the right-wing, anti-immigration Reform UK party, but because Mr Burnham won decisively, many in the Labour camp have come to accept that he would be the better leader to fight off Reform at the next general election.
It is understood that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander have now told Sir Keir it is time for him to stand down.
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Britain’s unpopular Labour government just scored a thumping by-election victory, but what could look like a blueprint for combating a populist opponent could actually be a warning for Anthony Albanese.
Several government insiders have been briefing journalists over the weekend that they also think his position is untenable, but there have been telling on-the-record-comments too.
It was left to the Business Secretary Peter Kyle, one of the prime minister’s most loyal allies, to speak publicly for the government on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program.
When asked by Ms Kuenssberg whether Sir Keir still planned to fight any challenge for his leadership, Mr Kyle said his boss was “making time this weekend to try and reflect on the political challenges that he faces”.
“He’s also taking the time to think through what the political realities are today compared to last week, the week before,” Mr Kyle said.
“But I know that he is a prime minister who always puts country first and that will be framing every decision that he makes today, on behalf of the country, in his day-to-day job as prime minister, but also when he thinks about the party going forward it will always be about what’s in the best interests of the country.”
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