Donald Trump has declared that Sir Keir Starmer “will resign as prime minister” – a parting shot that landed as the embattled Labour leader spent the weekend at Chequers weighing up his political future. The US president’s post on Truth Social accused Starmer of failing “badly” on immigration and energy policy, repeating his call to “open North Sea oil”. Trump wrote: “He failed badly on two very important subjects – IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”
The prime minister’s authority has crumbled since Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election on Thursday, which saw the Greater Manchester mayor increase Labour’s majority and buck a trend of electoral losses. That result cleared a path for Burnham to challenge for the leadership, and the number of Labour MPs calling for Starmer to go has since topped 100 – just under a quarter of the party’s MPs, according to Wales Online. Some of them had signed a letter warning against a leadership contest only last month.
“Donald Trump says Starmer will resign as over 100 Labour MPs demand he go after Burnham's by-election win.”
Business Secretary Peter Kyle acknowledged the shift in tone. He told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that Starmer was “taking the time to think through what the political realities are today, compared to last week and the week before”. Kyle added that he did not want to “be delusional that there is no process” and “no forces at work” challenging the leader. Labour peer Charlie Falconer said Starmer has “absolutely no authority” because “everybody assumes” Burnham will challenge and win. Former home secretary Alan Johnson also said Starmer should step aside.
On Friday, Starmer insisted he would not “walk away” from Downing Street and warned Labour staffers against “plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other”. But by the weekend, a senior ally told The Sun there was “just a 25% chance he fights on now”. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have reportedly urged Starmer to set out an exit timetable, while The Observer cited sources saying a clear statement could come as early as Monday.
Burnham is expected in Westminster on Monday to be sworn into the Commons. He plans to speak to Starmer afterwards and present a list of backers – reportedly seeking up to 200 – to press for a transition. The incoming Makerfield MP’s camp favours a longer wait to prepare for government, but would accept a timetable keeping Starmer in No 10 until September. Downing Street said the prime minister’s position remained unchanged from Friday, but the question, as Channel 4 News put it, is: will he stay or will he go?