There are increasing signs in London that the Labor leader is preparing to leave. Just a few days ago, Keir Starmer emphasized his willingness to fight.
June 22, 2026, 01:22June 22, 2026, 01:22
Sebastian Borger, London / ch media
Keir Starmer could resign on Monday after almost two years in office.Image: keystone
Change of heart in Downing Street: In London, all signs point to Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing the end of his almost two-year term in office at the beginning of the week. Just last week, the Labor leader had always emphasized his willingness to fight.
On Sunday, however, loyal ministers such as businessman Peter Kyle said that the boss was “thinking about the current political reality”. Several cabinet colleagues have suggested Starmer give her a dignified farewell. This would clear the way for the seventh British head of government since the Brexit referendum, which celebrated its tenth anniversary on Tuesday.
The deeply unpopular incumbent has had to put up with speculation about his political longevity for months. These increased after Labor suffered a historic defeat in regional and local elections at the beginning of May. This month, the fiercely loyal Defense Secretary John Healey deserted him. The 66-year-old Labor warrior’s resignation statement contained the devastating verdict that Starmer was “endangering the security of the country” through his indecision and lack of defense spending.
An embarrassing audience with the king
On Thursday, the previous mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, clearly won the by-election in Makerfield, northwest England, outclassing the far-right parties Reform and Restore. The 56-year-old’s team says that their husband already has half of the Labor group, currently 403 out of 650 members of the House of Commons, behind him. Such assurances are always difficult to verify.
But Starmer can have no doubt that his already weak support in the party and parliamentary group is continuing to dwindle. This has constitutional consequences: According to the unwritten constitution, a prime minister must be able to answer the monarch’s question as to whether he has the confidence of the House of Commons with an unqualified yes. Starmer will want to avoid the embarrassing situation at his next audience with Charles III.
The cabinet meeting on Tuesday would probably also be less than pleasant. A handful of ministers, including the heads of foreign and interior departments, have long since told the boss that he should plan his departure.
Speculation about position
The Sunday Observer newspaper reported that the admission of loss of power would come as early as Monday. It is the same day on which, by noon at the latest, the British media will be completely focused on the new man, Burnham. After a farewell visit to the official headquarters of the greater Manchester region, the newly elected MP from Makerfield wants to board the train to London. He is to be sworn in in the House of Commons in the afternoon, together with a Scottish nationalist and a Conservative who were also elected on Thursday.
Andy Burnham (Labour Party) is considered Keir Starmer’s successor.Image: keystone
The London media has long been speculating about how a future Burnham government would position itself. There is no lack of more or less good advice. The independent Lord Jim O’Neill has spoken out in favor of reforming the increasingly unaffordable guarantee for pensioners to receive more pensions each year, adjusted for inflation, regardless of economic circumstances.
The ex-banker from Manchester, who once worked at Goldman Sachs and was brought into government by conservative Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015, has long been part of the politician’s circle of informal advisors.
Labor thought leader compares Starmer to Johnson
This reportedly includes Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair’s (1997-2007) former head of planning at Downing Street, Geoff Mulgan. In an interview with this newspaper, the Labor thought leader, 65, sums up what top officials and ministers have been saying behind closed doors in London for months: “Starmer doesn’t master the political craft.”
The 63-year-old missed what good politicians do, namely gathering people around them who can compensate for their own weaknesses. “The fact that the Prime Minister’s closest team lacks the right mix of skills reflects on him. His knowledge of people is not good.”
Mulgan is particularly angry about the lack of good planning in Starmer’s circle. The former Attorney General has neither interest in good communication nor in the work of the law and its implementation by the government machinery. In a not particularly favorable comparison, Mulgan draws parallels between the trained journalist Boris Johnson, Prime Minister from 2019-22, and the experienced court lawyer Starmer. Their profession is fine words, details are not thought through thoroughly enough. (schweiztoday.ch)