UK PM Starmer mulling 'political realities': senior minister
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was reflecting this weekend on the “political realities” that he faces, a senior minister said on Sunday, amid media reports the premier would resign within days. It follows veteran Labour politician and rival Andy Burnham’s victory in a by-election on Friday, which paves the way for the 56-year-old to challenge the beleaguered Starmer to be party leader and prime minister. Any Labour leadership candidate must be a member of parliament. If Starmer does leave office this year, Britain will get its seventh prime minister in a decade — an unprecedented rate of churn in its modern history. US President Donald Trump shared his thoughts on Sunday in typically blunt fashion, writing on his Truth Social platform that “Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom”. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!” Burnham — Greater Manchester mayor since 2017 — has made clear he intends to bid to lead slumping centre-left Labour, warning in his by-election victory speech that the party had a “final chance to change”. He is expected to be sworn in as an MP on Monday. If successful in ousting Starmer, he would become prime minister by default, given that ruling Labour has a huge parliamentary majority. ‘Frank’ talks Starmer, who is deeply unpopular with voters according to polling, has insisted he will fight any attempt to oust him. But the emphatic nature of Burnham’s win in the Makerfield constituency in northwest England — where he nearly doubled Labour’s majority — has increased the internal pressure on Starmer to quit. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said on Sunday that Starmer was “making time to reflect on the political realities, challenges and opportunities that he finds himself in”. “He has been engaging in conversations with a wide, wide range of people,” Kyle told Sky News broadcaster after having what he said was a “frank” conversation with Starmer