UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to release a statement conceding power as soon as Monday, according to people familiar with the matter, putting Britain on course for its seventh premier in a decade and paving the way for Andy Burnham to replace him.
Starmer's Departure Timetable
Allies of Starmer anticipate he will set out a timetable for his departure in the coming days. A statement could come as early as Monday, though the timing is not certain, sources said. Starmer spent the last three days considering his position and whether to continue fighting attempts by Burnham, who was elected to Parliament last week, to depose him.
US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday that Starmer would resign as prime minister. A UK official said nothing had been communicated to Trump from the government and he had not spoken to Starmer.
Political Pressure Mounts
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said Starmer was reflecting on "political realities." Kyle told Sky News: "He has been engaging conversations with a wide, wide range of people, including myself. As well as working really hard over this weekend. I think he is making time to reflect on the political realities, challenges, and opportunities that he finds himself in."
Starmer's expected decision follows Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election, making him eligible to launch a leadership challenge against the historically unpopular premier. The result led to days of discussions between Starmer and his allies over whether he could withstand a challenge from Burnham.
Cabinet Shifts
By the end of Friday, several cabinet ministers loyal to Starmer had indicated in conversations with him that while they didn't want him to leave, they thought it was inevitable he'd be replaced, according to people familiar with their thinking. These conversations focused on minimizing disruption to the country and preventing deeper infighting in Labour, rather than ministers presenting ultimatums or threatening to resign.
By Saturday morning, only a core group of ultra-loyal cabinet members continued to argue that he should fight on. Starmer had left several cabinet ministers with the impression he'd accepted he would have to set a timetable for his departure. They also believed he would choose not to stand in any leadership election, avoiding the need for more difficult discussions, one person familiar with some of the talks said.
Transition Planning
By the middle of Saturday, the focus of Starmer's allies had turned to the terms of his departure. Some argued throughout the weekend for him to go long, setting an exit date in September, arguing that it was in the country's best interests because Burnham is some way away from demonstrating he has a plan for power. It would be up to Labour MPs to decide if Burnham should win power by a coronation or face a leadership contest, they said, though they warned of the risks of Burnham coming to power untested.
