Political turmoil: UK will see its seventh prime minister in 10 years

Nearly two years after leading the Labour Party to a landslide election victory, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation amid a mounting rebellion within the party, kick-starting the race for the seventh prime minister of the United Kingdom in 10 years.

In an emotional address on Monday, Starmer said he would remain in office until a new Labour leader and, by extension, the next prime minister is selected. The formal leadership contest is to begin on July 9 and is to be completed by the UK Parliament’s summer recess.

Weeks of internal pressure after disappointing local election results had already weakened Starmer’s position. A decisive parliamentary by-election victory in Makerfield by challenger and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham ultimately triggered the resignation.

Who has led the UK over the past 10 years?

Since 2016, the UK has had six prime ministers, averaging one every one and a half to two years, compared with the much longer tenures of Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, who each led the country for more than a decade.

The graphic below shows the 10 prime ministers the UK has had over the past 50 years.

(Al Jazeera)

1. David Cameron resigned in 2016 after campaigning to remain in the European Union and losing the Brexit referendum.
2. Theresa May resigned in 2019 after repeated failures to secure parliamentary approval for her Brexit withdrawal agreement.
3. Boris Johnson resigned in 2022 after a series of scandals and a wave of ministerial resignations that undermined his government.
4. Liz Truss resigned in 2022 after 49 days in office amid market turmoil triggered by her government’s economic plans.
5. Rishi Sunak left office after the Conservatives suffered a heavy defeat in the 2024 general election.
6. Keir Starmer resigned on Monday after growing pressure from within the Labour Party after poor local election results.