The UK is marching towards its seventh prime minister in a decade because it remains trapped by a failed Brexit that neither citizens nor political leaders have been able to make work.
The governing Labour party, reeling from heavy losses to the Reform party, a far-right populist political party led by Nigel Farage, after the local elections of 7 May, is strongly considering replacing prime minister Keir Starmer.
Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and former health secretary Wes Streeting are preparing leadership challenges, believing they have a better chance than Starmer of stopping Reform at the next general election, expected in May 2029.
Starmer entered 10 Downing Street in Juley 2024, still less than two years ago, after a landslide Labour victory, following the public’s fatigue from the Conservative Party’s 14 years in power.
But, as of May 2026 his standing had crumbled: approval was near historic lows, with just 19 percent viewing him positively. More than 80 Labour MPs, following the local elections defeat, urged him to step down as leader of the Labour party and prime minister, fearing his unpopularity could squander Labour’s prospects and hand the keys of 10 Downing Street to Farage in 2029.
