Senior government officials close to United Kingdom Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, expect him to announce a timetable for his departure within days, a move that could set Britain on course for its seventh prime minister in a decade and potentially clear the way for Andy Burnham to succeed him.
According to people familiar with the discussions, Starmer could make a statement as early as Monday outlining plans to relinquish power, although they cautioned that no final decision had been confirmed.
The prime minister has spent recent days weighing his options and considering whether to resist growing efforts by Burnham, who returned to Parliament last week, to challenge his leadership.
The speculation intensified after US President Donald Trump declared on Truth Social on Sunday that Starmer “will resign” as prime minister.
However, a UK government official said no such information had been communicated to Trump and that he had not spoken with Starmer.
Meanwhile, The Guardian reported on Sunday evening that Starmer was expected to reveal his intentions during a statement outside Downing Street on Monday morning, citing unidentified cabinet ministers.
When approached for comment, Downing Street referred to remarks Starmer made on Friday insisting he would not abandon his position.
However, officials also pointed to comments from Business Secretary Peter Kyle, who suggested the prime minister was reflecting on the political realities facing his government.
“He has been engaging conversations with a wide, wide range of people, including myself,” Kyle told Sky News in an interview on Sunday. “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.”
The prospect of Starmer stepping down marks a dramatic turn for a leader who swept Labour to a landslide election victory in 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.
His government has since struggled with policy setbacks, falling approval ratings and a crushing local election defeat in May, prompting a growing number of Labour MPs to call for his resignation.
Pressure on Starmer increased after Burnham secured a convincing victory in the Makerfield by-election, defeating Reform UK and strengthening the view among many Labour lawmakers that he offers the party its best chance of countering Nigel Farage before the next general election, expected by 2029.
This version replaces the vague “allies” with “senior government officials” and reads more like a polished Reuters/Bloomberg-style political report.
