Keir Starmer could resign soon, report says UK PM 'ready to step down' amid growing turmoil

The UK Labour government found itself in a crisis amid growing voter dissatisfaction with the Starmer administration.

Updated on: May 17, 2026 8:55 AM IST

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Amid the political turmoil in the United Kingdom, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly told his inner circle that he is ready to "stand down".

From the controversy surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson and his ties to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, to the Labour Party's poor performance in the local elections, calls for Starmer to resign have increased. (AP)

Citing a member of the cabinet, the Daily Mail UK reported that Starmer is ready to step down as prime minister but will "do it on his own terms."

'He realises the current chaos is unsustainable. He simply wants to be able to do it in a dignified way and in a manner of his own choosing. He will set out a timetable," the source told the UK-based outlet.

UK government in crisis mode

The UK Labour government found itself in a crisis amid growing voter dissatisfaction with the Starmer administration.

From the controversy surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson and his ties to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, to the Labour Party's poor performance in the local elections, calls for Starmer to resign have increased.

Also Read | Starmer accused of pressuring fast-track approval of Peter Mandelson as UK envoy to Washington

The most recent hit came with the resignation of Wes Streeting, the former health secretary in the Starmer cabinet.

On Saturday, Streeting stated that he would move to challenge Starmer in any future Labour Party leadership contest, putting his hat in the ring for the post of prime minister.

During his speech, the former health secretary also urged Starmer to "set a schedule" for his departure.

Also Read | Frontrunner for new UK PM, Wes Streeting wants Brexit reversed: ‘Leaving EU was catastrophic’

Starmer's growing unpopularity

Adding to all this turmoil, Keir Starmer's popularity ratings have also tanked. According to YouGov UK surveys, around 69 per cent of Britons have an "unfavourable" opinion of the Labour prime minister.

YouGov further reported that Starmer is currently the least popular prime minister on record, with many drawing comparisons to the 49 days of Liz Truss' run as UK PM.

Furthermore, Starmer's own party seems to be losing faith in his leadership. Many Labour MPs now fear that if Starmer's unpopularity streak continues, it would endanger the chances of any future Labour government and may just push the country into the hands of the far-right led by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

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Danita Yadav
Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

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