UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is weighing his political future as pressure mounts for him to announce his resignation, following Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election last week. Cabinet ally Peter Kyle acknowledged that Starmer is considering the “political realities” of the situation, while US President Donald Trump publicly predicted that Starmer “will resign as prime minister”.
Cabinet Ministers Urge Exit Timetable
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have urged Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure, according to sources. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had already made similar calls after Labour's poor performance in a series of elections last month. Scores of Labour MPs have also publicly demanded Starmer resign or outline a clear exit plan.
In a shift in tone, Business Secretary Peter Kyle told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that Starmer is “taking the time to think through what the political realities are today, compared to last week and the week before”. Kyle said he had spoken to Starmer on Friday and believes that “every decision he makes today” about Labour’s future will reflect “what’s in the best interests of the country”. He added that while using a formal process to change leader is “better wherever possible”, this must be balanced against maintaining the government’s authority “through any processes that may unfold”.
Trump's Intervention and By-Election Context
In a social media post, US President Donald Trump attacked Starmer's record, saying he had “failed badly” on immigration and energy policy, and repeated calls to “open North Sea oil”. No 10 told the BBC that the two leaders, who last met at a G7 summit in France, had not spoken over the weekend. Trump's comments add to the pressure on Starmer, who has faced a series of electoral setbacks.
Burnham's victory in Makerfield on Thursday bucked the recent trend of Labour losses, as he fended off a challenge from Reform UK and increased Labour's majority. Burnham is expected to travel to Westminster on Monday to formally take up his seat as an MP. His allies have urged Starmer to reflect over the weekend and listen to his cabinet, MPs and family.
Potential Leadership Contenders and Party Divisions
Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, a potential leadership rival to Burnham, has previously said he would join any contest, arguing the party needs a “battle of ideas” over its future direction. Jess Phillips, who quit as a minister after May's election results, told Kuenssberg: “It feels like we’ve come to the end of the road.” However, she expressed hope that the party would find a way to question “what’s coming next” without necessarily a “full-scale contest”. “You can’t just come and take over. You do have to come and present your ideas to, at the very least, the Parliamentary Labour Party,” she said.
Policy Differences and Market Concerns
During the Makerfield campaign, Burnham recommitted to Labour's manifesto promise not to increase the main rates of income tax, VAT or National Insurance, as well as the borrowing rules set by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. He has called for “stronger public control” of utilities and repeated pledges to replace inheritance tax with a new “national care levy”. However, he has not yet outlined his thinking on defence spending, while Starmer has focused on rewriting budgets to free up cash for military investment.
Labour MP Toby Perkins, a shadow minister in opposition, told Kuenssberg he does not want Starmer to stand down, noting it would mean the country would have its “seventh prime minister in 10 years”. He argued that Starmer “deserves a bit of time” and that the government is not “manifestly failing”, pointing to reductions in NHS waiting times, net migration and the asylum backlog. The 2020 leadership race that elected Starmer took six weeks, and some Labour MPs worry that a similar contest could further damage the party's prospects and create uncertainty for markets.
