British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a significant internal revolt within his Labour Party, with four cabinet ministers resigning and 80 MPs—approximately 20% of his caucus—calling for his resignation. Despite this, Starmer has stated he will remain in office. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is likely observing these developments with concern, wondering if he might be next to face a similar fate.
Carney is currently enjoying a honeymoon period following his April 2025 election victory, buoyed by his perceived strong stance against U.S. President Donald Trump. However, just 10 months before Carney secured his minority government, and 22 months before his manufactured majority, Starmer won a massive majority in Britain—the best for Labour since Tony Blair's 2001 victory. That lead has since evaporated.
Starmer's Plummeting Support
Less than two years into his term, Starmer is facing an internal rebellion after Labour suffered heavy losses in local elections. Currently, Labour trails the Conservatives nationally by one point and Reform by at least eight points. In recent local council elections, Labour lost seats to the Greens on the left and Reform on the right. While these votes do not directly affect the national government, they signal a shift in public sentiment against Labour.
Carney's Connection to Starmer's Policies
Before becoming Canada's 24th prime minister, Carney served as governor of the Bank of England and advised the Labour Party. He endorsed Rachel Reeves as chancellor of the exchequer ahead of the 2024 election. Reeves, in turn, appointed Carney to lead a task force for a new National Wealth Fund, which bears striking resemblance to Carney's proposed Canada Strong Fund. The Starmer government has largely followed Carney's policy roadmap.
Carney's political trajectory is notable: he was appointed to lead central banks in both Canada and Britain by Conservative governments, yet later supported Liberal and Labour parties against those who gave him his platforms. The parties he supported have struggled economically. This raises the question of whether Carney is a capable administrator but a poor leader.
The Trump Factor
For now, Carney benefits from being seen as the anti-Trump, which shields him from scrutiny. As long as Trump remains in office, Carney is unlikely to face the same backlash as Starmer, despite pursuing similar policies that have already proven unsuccessful. However, if the political winds shift, Carney may find himself in a precarious position.
Carney is currently receiving a pass from both voters and Canada's national media, which has been reluctant to ask tough questions. But as the Starmer example shows, political fortunes can change rapidly.
