Donald Trump has weighed into British political drama, declaring Sir Keir Starmer “will resign” as UK prime minister.
“I wish him well!” the US President added on Sunday, US time.
A new UK PM is looking increasingly likely after Andy Burnham won a Manchester by-election last week – walloping the nationalist and One Nation-esque Reform UK party in the process – setting up a likely challenge to Mr Starmer as Labour leader.
There are reports Mr Starmer could resign as soon as Monday, UK time, to avoid a leadership battle which, if he lost, would be the “worst humiliation,” a Labour Party source said.
A senior UK government figure told news agency Reuters that Mr Starmer was focused on his job – and claimed the prime minister wasn’t going anywhere.
The BBC reported that 10 Downing Street had insisted there had been no consultation with Washington DC on the matter. Nonetheless, on Sunday, Mr Trump appeared to suggest he had the inside scoop.
“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” he wrote on social media,
“He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!).
“I wish him well!”
‘Worst humiliation’
The UK has a similar political system to Australia where the leader of the majority party becomes PM. The party can replace the party leader with the new leader then becoming prime minister.
Mr Starmer was said to be discussing his political future with his wife, Victoria, before laying out a timetable for his departure from 10 Downing Street, according to UK newspaper The Observer.
The news comes after Mr Starmer’s expected rival, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham won a seat in parliament after a by-election election in the northern English city last week, the New York Post reported. As only a sitting MP can be party leader this was a crucial step in Mr Burnham being able challenge Mr Starmer.
Mr Burnham, who has made two previous runs at heading the Labour Party, is said to have the support of over half the Labour MPs to mount a leadership challenge to Mr Starmer, the outlet reported.
The two are set to meet in the coming days.
“Keir has realised the game is up and it’s got to be a graceful exit,” a senior Labour figure told Reuters The Observer.
“What he rightly wants to avoid is humiliation, but the worst humiliation for Keir personally would be if he stands in a leadership election and is heavily beaten.”
Even if Mr Starmer drops out of a leadership contest it’s likely Mr Burnham will still have to fight other contenders including former health secretary Wes Streeting.
Mr Burnham was once associated with the centrist pro-business faction of the Labour Party, but now presents himself as a left-wing populist and is known for his man on the street social media videos.
He received 55 per cent of the vote in the Makerfield electorate, easily defeating Labour’s main rival, the Reform Party, headed by Brexiteer Nigel Farage.
How it went downhill for Starmer
Mr Starmer’s woes are all the more notable because Labour won a landslide election victory less than two years ago turfing out the Conservative Party of Rishi Sunak.
UK elections only needs to happen every five years, so Mr Starmer could have remained in the top office for some time.
However, Mr Starmer has faced dismal approval ratings as Britain deals with economic and immigration issues. There has also been the rise of Reform which wiped the floor with Labour in recent local elections. There is a concern within the party that Labour would lose the next election if Mr Starmer remained at the helm.
The Prime minister has also been weakened by a serious of policy turnarounds and ministerial resignations including the defence secretary John Healey recently who said pleas by the UK military to get more funding were falling on deaf ears and harming the nation,
He has frequently clashed with US President Trump – particularly after he refused to come to the aid of the United States in the war against Iran.
“I’m not happy with the UK either … this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” Mr Trump said of Mr Starmer in March after tensions between the two leaders came to a boil.
Mr Trump was frustrated by Mr Starmer’s refusal to allow US planes to launch from the joint US-UK air base in Diego Garcia and other UK bases in the region.
He ultimately allowed the US access to Diego Garcia, but not after several tongue-lashings from the commander in chief.
“We were not involved in the initial strikes against Iran, and we will not join offensive action now. But in the face of Iran’s barrage of missiles and drones, we will protect our people in the region,” Mr Starmer said in March.
With The New York Post.
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