UK Prime Minister may resign till tomorrow, claims report:100 MPs reportedly rebel; Starmer would become 6th PM to leave office in 10 years

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly expected to announce his resignation on Monday and may also set out a timetable for his departure, according to a report by The Observer. The report said Starmer concluded after discussions with cabinet ministers, advisers and trade union leaders that it may no longer be possible for him to continue in office. However, government sources have rejected the claim, insisting that Starmer remains focused on his work as prime minister. Reports suggest that more than 100 Labour MPs have publicly called on Starmer to resign or announce a departure date, representing nearly a quarter of the party’s MPs in the House of Commons. Pressure on his leadership has intensified in recent weeks amid growing dissatisfaction within the party. If Starmer steps down, he would become the latest in a series of British prime ministers to leave office before completing a full term, following leaders including David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. Reports indicate that a formal announcement on his future could come as early as Monday, although no final decision has yet been confirmed. Why pressure is mounting on Starmer to step down Keir Starmer led the Labour Party to a landslide election victory in 2024, but his popularity has steadily declined since then. A series of controversies, policy U-turns and failure to deliver on promises to improve living standards have damaged his public image. His troubles deepened after rival politician Andy Burnham won a by-election on Friday. The victory has fuelled speculation that Burnham could launch a bid to lead the Labour Party. After the win, he said he wanted to give the country a new direction, while several of his allies called on Starmer to resign. Former health secretary Wes Streeting has also suggested he could challenge Starmer for the party leadership if necessary. However, Starmer said on Friday that he would face any leadership challenge and urged Labour members to avoid internal divisions. Why UK prime ministers change so often Experts say the main reason UK prime ministers change frequently is the country’s parliamentary system. Voters do not directly elect the prime minister. Instead, the leader remains in office as long as they have the support of their party’s MPs. If MPs believe a leader’s falling popularity could hurt the party in the next election, they can begin the process of choosing a new leader without holding a general election. As a result, UK prime ministers can come under pressure to step down as soon as support within their party weakens. The rules of Britain’s major parties also make it relatively easier to replace leaders. In the Conservative Party, a no-confidence vote can be triggered if 15% of MPs submit letters against the leader. In the Labour Party, a leadership challenger can enter the race if they secure backing from more than 20% of party MPs and members. Fixed-term law introduced in 2011 to improve stability The UK introduced the Fixed-term Parliaments Act in 2011 to ensure fixed parliamentary terms and reduce the chances of governments collapsing before completing their term. However, the law was later repealed. Critics argue that this brought back the old system, making prime ministers more dependent on support from their own party and more vulnerable to sudden political crises. As a result, a drop in party backing can quickly put a prime minister’s position at risk, leading to shorter and less predictable tenures. Pressure to deliver quick results after Brexit According to media reports, British politics changed significantly after the 2016 Brexit referendum. Voters now focus less on party loyalty and more on issues such as inflation, taxes, public services and living standards, expecting faster results from governments. Experts say this has increased pressure on political leaders to deliver improvements in a short period. If a government fails to meet public expectations, opposition often emerges from within the ruling party itself, leading to calls for a change in leadership. ​