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Keir Starmer to be ousted as UK PM? How a leadership challenge could unfold

Dozens of MPs have called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down or at least set out a timetable for his exit. Now, a number of challengers have emerged including ex-health secretary Wes Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is on the ropes politically. Reuters

FP Explainers|May 15, 2026, 14:10:29 IST

Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life.

Dozens of MPs have called on the beleaguered UK Prime Minister to step down or at least set out a timetable for his exit. This comes after Labour’s disastrous performance in the recent local body polls in England, Scotland and Wales, which saw the anti-immigrant Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, make massive gains.

Now, a number of challengers have emerged to take on Starmer.

Starmer thus far has indicated that he is in no mood to do so. Earlier this week, Starmer, in a major speech to the Labour Party, said that Britain is a “reasonable, tolerant and decent” country and vowed not to walk away.

Rivals emerge

Starmer has a slew of challengers lining up to take him on for the prime ministership.

At the top of the list is Wes Streeting, who resigned as UK Health Secretary. Streeting wrote in his resignation letter to Starmer that, despite his "courage and statesmanship", "where we need vision, we have a vacuum".

“These are all good reasons for me to remain in post, but as you know from our conversation earlier this week, having lost confidence in your leadership, I have concluded that it would be dishonourable and unprincipled to do so,” Streeting said. “It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election.”

Starmer, meanwhile, wrote back that he was sorry Streeting had stepped down, but added, “We must deliver on our promise to turn the page on the chaos that was roundly rejected by the British people at the last general election.”

British Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned. Reuters

Streeting isn’t alone. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has announced that he will challenge Starmer for the position of UK Prime Minister. Though Burnham is not a sitting MP, which was a hurdle for him seeking the leadership spot, a path for him has now been cleared. This comes after Labour MP Josh Simons declared that he will step down from his post in Makerfield, Greater Manchester, to allow Burnham to enter the contest.

Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner could also throw her hat into the race. Rayner, who was also Housing Minister, had stepped down from the cabinet in September after being accused of underpaying stamp duty on a flat in the seaside town of Hove. On Thursday, Rayner, in an interview with The Guardian, said she would “play her part” in the crisis and urged Starmer to consider stepping aside.

“I’ll play my part in doing everything we possibly can to deliver the change, because it’s not a personal ambition. I know the difference it makes,” she told the newspaper. “Whatever role I can play, I will keep pushing and pushing hard because I want the people out there at the moment who are really struggling to know that I’m putting all my energy into fighting for them.”

Rayner also revealed that she had settled her unpaid tax bill and that the investigation by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs found no deliberate wrongdoing on her part. This, in effect, paves the way for Rayner to return as a possible challenger to Starmer.

More MPs call on Starmer to quit, set timetable for exit

Over 90 MPs thus far have called on Starmer to step down or at least announce when he will do so. According to Labour Party rules, any party members wishing to challenge Starmer must gain the backing of 20 per cent of the sitting Labour MPs – which works out to around 81 MPs.

Candidates must also gain support from local party groups or Labour-affiliated groups such as trade unions. After candidates achieve this, the Labour Party’s National Executive Council (NEC) will then set up a timetable to hold a vote for the leadership and lay out the process. Then, party members and affiliates vote in what is known as a ‘ranked-choice’ system.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has announced his intention to challenge Keir Starmer. Reuters

Here, voters have to choose their preferred candidates in order – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and so on. This is then redistributed accordingly until one candidate gets over 50 per cent of the vote. If no one crosses the threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. The process then resumes until a candidate hits the over 50 per cent mark and thus becomes the UK Labour Party chief and Prime Minister. This process usually takes around three months, but it can go even longer.

No-confidence vote by Opposition

As per the BBC, the Opposition could call a no-confidence vote against Starmer. If Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch files such a motion in the UK Parliament, there would have to be a debate and a vote. Interestingly, the Opposition would need merely a simple majority to prevail against the government – that is, just one more vote.

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, said at best he had been recklessly negligent. Reuters

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the main Opposition Conservative Party. Reuters

If the Opposition prevails, a new general election would immediately be called. However, this is unlikely given that Labour has over 400 of the 650 MPs in the UK Parliament.

Starmer resigns

While this is the unlikeliest option given what has happened thus far, Starmer buckling to the pressure from the growing chorus within his own party cannot be ruled out. As per the BBC, if Starmer gives in, both the government and the Labour Party would be left in the hands of a successor. Interestingly, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy would not be the automatic choice to take over. Instead, it is the cabinet that would make the decision, with input from the NEC.