Sir Keir Starmer has been forced to resign as prime minister of the United Kingdom by his own party, less than two years after securing one of the largest general election victories in modern British history, according to BBC reporting.
Starmer won a decisive majority on a platform promising stability and steady leadership amid political turmoil. However, his approval ratings quickly declined, and he came under mounting pressure following poor election results across England, Scotland and Wales in May.
“I will resign as leader of the Labour Party,” Starmer said, outlining a timetable intended to allow a new government leadership to form before Parliament returns in September. He acknowledged that members of his party had begun questioning whether he remained the right figure to lead them into the next general election.
Before announcing his resignation, Starmer said he inherited a Labour Party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt,” reflecting the scale of challenges he faced upon entering office.
The populist right-wing Reform UK party surpassed Labour in opinion polls in spring 2025 and has since maintained its lead, intensifying pressure on Starmer’s leadership. After losing seats in early May local elections, internal dissent within Labour began to escalate.
From the outset, Starmer’s premiership showed signs of instability. Within three months in office, he returned more than 6,000 pounds ($7,900) in gifts and hospitality, including tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, amid growing scrutiny over ministerial ethics. While no rules were broken, public reaction was sharply negative at a time of economic stagnation and heightened expectations for reform.
His government also faced criticism over repeated policy reversals, including changes to green investment commitments, welfare reforms and inheritance tax policy. At the same time, he came under sustained attack from the political right over migration across the English Channel.
Opinion polling consistently placed Starmer among the least popular UK prime ministers in recent history, with approval ratings at times approaching record lows.
Economic pressure stemming from the wars in Ukraine and later Iran further complicated his tenure, contributing to fears of recession. Energy shocks linked to Middle East instability hit the UK particularly hard among advanced economies, according to an April report from the International Monetary Fund, which later revised UK growth forecasts to 1% from 0.8% for 2026.
One of the most damaging political controversies involved UK Ambassador to the United States Lord Peter Mandelson, whose name appeared in so-called Epstein files. Mandelson, a veteran Labour strategist under former Prime Minister Tony Blair, had twice previously left government amid controversy.
Starmer appointed Mandelson as envoy to the United States despite knowledge of his continued association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. documents released in January reportedly revealed further contacts between Epstein and Mandelson, prompting an ongoing police investigation into allegations of sensitive UK government information being shared.
Mandelson has not publicly commented on the emails, but the BBC reported his position is that he committed no criminal wrongdoing and was not motivated by financial gain. Starmer dismissed Mandelson in September, but the episode raised broader questions about his judgment and weakened his image as a decisive leader.
Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson was partly driven by hopes of strengthening ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. While relations between the two leaders initially appeared warm, tensions emerged over differences in approach to the Iran conflict.
Starmer later authorized the use of UK bases by U.S. forces for what were described as “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites, a move that failed to ease Trump’s criticism. The U.S. president continued to publicly attack Starmer, while also drawing criticism from Labour supporters opposed to deeper involvement in the conflict.
Observers say the episode reflected Starmer’s broader political style — delayed compromises that ultimately alienated multiple sides of a dispute.
Trump appeared to anticipate Starmer’s resignation. In a social media post on Sunday, the former U.S. president said Starmer would “resign as prime minister,” accusing him of “total failure” on immigration and energy policy. “I wish him well!” Trump added.
