Keir Starmer on the way out? This surprise contender could be the UK's next Prime Minister

Economic Times

a day ago

Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure as Labour's poll numbers decline, with Reform UK gaining ground. Senior Labour figures have reportedly warned that poor performance in the May 2026 elections could jeopardize Starmer's leadership. His personal favorability ratings are also low, fueling speculation about a potential leadership challenge within the party.
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Keir Starmer Under Pressure: Could He Be Forced Out as Labour Leader?
May 2026 Elections Could Seal His Fate
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Poll Data: Labour Slips, Reform UK Takes the Lead
Starmer's Personal Ratings Take a Hit
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UK's prime minister Sir Keir Starmer may soon have to leave his position as he is under pressure from within his own party and even many poll data indicating that he should be replaced as the Labour Party leader, as per reports.According to a Sky News report, two senior Labour MPs have hinted that the Starmer might have to leave his position within months if the government continues to perform poorly. Sky News' sources have that a member of the government and a prominent politician have "put Sir Keir Starmer on notice," as quoted in the report.They have reportedly warned that, if Labour performs badly in next May's elections across Wales, Scotland and London, it might be the end of Starmer's time in Downing Street, as per the report.Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates revealed that, "The level of unhappiness and despair in parts of the Labour Party is so striking that right now, on the first anniversary, I am hearing from ministers in government that Starmer might have to go in months," as quoted in the report.ALSO READ: Nvidia just dropped a game-changer — CEO Jensen Huang calls it a miracle for AI supercomputing While recent polling data shows that support for Labour is falling very quickly, with Reform UK now topping the results, reported The Express. YouGov poll for Sky News and The Times found that Nigel Farage 's party has a seven-point lead on 29%, while the support for the Labour Party has declined to 22%, as reported by The Express.Even Starmer acknowledged the threat his party is facing because of Reform when he addressed MPs this week, saying, "The Conservatives are not our principal opponent. Reform are our main rivals for power. We have a moral responsibility to make sure Farage never wins," as quoted in The Express report.ALSO READ: Elon Musk flip-flops? Slams Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, then praises him as a peacemaker — what's going on? However, the problem is not only that Labour's ratings that have fallen, but Starmer's personal rating has placed him way below on the favourability list to lead the party, as reported by The Express.The LabourList's poll data found that former party leader and current Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, Ed Miliband, topped the poll, with a net favourability of +68.6, according to the report.The poll also revealed that Miliband was closely followed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who got a net favourability of +62.95, with Culture Secretary and former leadership contender Lisa Nandy in third place with +38.87, as reported by The Express.While, Starmer's rating did not ranked anywhere near the top spot as he was placed in the 17th spot in the Cabinet, with a net favourability of only +13.83, and the poll also found that the prime minister's favorability was weakest among 35-year-olds to 44-year-olds at only +0.76, as per the report.The poll also revealed that almost a third, 31.39%, thought a new leader should fight the next general election, according to The Express.The local elections in Wales, Scotland, and London in May 2026, as per the Sky News report.Nigel Farage's Reform UK is now leading in some polls, as per the report.