Starmer, who promised stable leadership in 2024 but has been rocked by U-turns, economic malaise and several political scandals that brought his judgment into question, insisted as recently as Friday that he would fight any challenge to his leadership.
But after consulting select Cabinet ministers on Friday afternoon and spending the weekend with his wife Victoria at his country residence, Chequers, Starmer’s momentum stalled.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle told Sky News on Sunday that Starmer was “making time to reflect on the political realities” of the situation. Another ally of the PM, granted anonymity to speak frankly, said he had “shut himself away with his family to think about this.”
As the deliberations continued, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Starmer “will resign” — and added a renewed critique of Labour policy on immigration and oil drilling. But the U.S. president hadn’t spoken to Starmer, and even late Sunday night senior figures in No. 10 didn’t know what the PM would do; there was talk that he still hadn’t made a final decision, and that only Victoria knew. “No one knows what’s going on,” said one Labour official.
Formally, Downing Street pointed merely to the PM’s previous insistence that he would fight on; only a tight group of people knew his thinking. While the Guardian reported that aides had drafted a resignation statement, some of those who spoke directly to the PM over the weekend didn’t learn what he planned to do — and instead offered moral support.
The change in No. 10’s stance, however, was sudden and stark. Aides went from vehemently insisting the PM would keep fighting to maintaining a conspicuous silence. Some of Starmer’s closest allies began privately talking about a world in which he departs.