Political earthquake in Britain as PM Starmer prepares to ‘resign today’

British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is reportedly preparing to resign today in what could trigger another major political earthquake in Britain.

The Sun reported that Starmer was expected to quit after spending the weekend finalising an exit plan and working on a draft resignation speech with his inner circle.

According to the report, Cabinet ministers expect the embattled Prime Minister to make a statement outside Downing Street, where he may announce a timetable for his departure.

The report said Starmer spent the weekend at Chequers, his official country residence, holding talks with close allies and his wife, Victoria, after reportedly concluding that his chances of political survival had collapsed.

However, Reuters reported a more cautious version of events, saying that while The Observer also reported that Starmer was expected to resign on Monday and set out an orderly exit plan, a government source insisted the Prime Minister remained focused on governing.

Reuters said the source pointed to Starmer’s earlier statements that he was still committed to doing the job and would fight any challenge to his leadership.

The political pressure on Starmer intensified sharply after Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, won the Makerfield by-election, giving him a return route to Parliament and a platform to mount a leadership challenge.

Burnham is widely seen as the favourite to replace Starmer if the Prime Minister steps down or is forced out by Labour MPs.

The Sun reported that Burnham’s allies want a transition period of at least one month, and possibly until September, to allow him to prepare policies, build a team and rally Labour support ahead of the party conference.

The report also claimed that Burnham has the backing of about 200 Labour MPs, although his possible rise to Downing Street without a general election has already sparked tension inside the ruling party.

Reuters reported that more than 100 Labour lawmakers, roughly a quarter of Labour’s representatives in the House of Commons, had publicly called on Starmer to resign or set out a timetable for his exit.

Starmer led Labour to a landslide election victory in 2024, but his popularity has fallen sharply following scandals, policy U-turns and growing voter frustration over living standards, immigration and public services.

If he resigns, Britain would be heading for its seventh Prime Minister in just over a decade, a sign of the deep political instability that has gripped the country since the Brexit era.

Other possible Labour contenders include former Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, though Burnham is currently seen as the strongest figure in the race.

The Sun reported that Streeting is still “minded” to stand, while Cooper is also considering whether to enter the contest.

United States President, Donald Trump, also entered the controversy, claiming that Starmer would resign and accusing him of failing on immigration and energy policy.