Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for a general election in the wake of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation on Monday morning, arguing that any replacement will lack a mandate to govern the British people. The political churn continues at pace in London, with Prime Minister Starmer on Monday becoming the sixth leader to be forced to resign over the past decade as pressure mounted from within his left-wing Labour Party to stand down in the wake of a disastrous performance in May’s local elections, in which Farage’s poll-topping Reform UK demonstrated the ability to capture councils long considered safe Labour heartlands.
While Starmer announced his resignation, he also laid out plans to remain in office for the rest of the summer, giving his government time to get their legacy ducks in a row and allowing for a Labour leadership contest to be waged. Recently elected MP Andy Burnham — who stepped down from his post as Manchester Mayor to run for Parliament with the express purpose of deposing Starmer — was quick on Monday morning to confirm his intention to stand for leader and, hence, Prime Minister. Burnham, who previously failed twice to become Labour leader, appears set for a coronation, with widely speculated chief rival, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, saying on Monday that he intends to support the new Makerfield MP for leader. However, it is possible that other candidates may yet throw their hat in the ring before the July leadership contest is held.
