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Britain PM Resignation: There is a lot of turmoil these days in British politics. According to media reports, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to step down on Monday. Britain’s prestigious newspaper The Observer, quoting senior Labor Party sources, has claimed that Starmer is having serious discussions about his political future. However, government sources say that at present the Prime Minister is completely focused on his responsibilities and the functioning of the government.

For the last few months, dissatisfaction with Starmer’s leadership was continuously increasing within the Labor Party. This dissatisfaction deepened when his main rival Andy Burnham returned to Parliament by winning the Makerfield by-election. After this victory, Burnham’s chances of challenging the party leadership have become stronger.

The newspaper report said that Starmer, after talking to cabinet ministers, advisers, donors and trade union leaders, has realized that remaining as Prime Minister is no longer a viable option for him. However, on Friday he had publicly said that he would face any challenge against his leadership and advised the party to avoid internal factionalism.

What is the reason for Starmer’s resignation?

There has been a sharp decline in the popularity of Starmer, who led the Labor Party to a major victory in the 2024 general elections, in recent times. His image among the voters has weakened due to several controversies, political crises and allegations of backtracking from policy decisions.

According to Reuters, more than 100 Labor MPs have publicly demanded Starmer’s resignation or setting a deadline for his departure. If Starmer steps down or is removed, Britain could get its seventh prime minister in the last decade.

Why is Andy Burnham the strongest contender?

56-year-old Andy Burnham is being seen as a possible successor to Starmer. As Mayor of Greater Manchester, he has created a strong political base in Northern England. Recently, he returned to Parliament by defeating Nigel Farage’s party Reform UK in the Makerfield by-election. Although he has not yet directly challenged Starmer, he did talk about a “new path” for the country in his victory speech.

Who is Andy Burnham?

• Andrew Murray Burnham was born on 7 January 1970 in Aintree, England. He took membership of the Labor Party at an early age and became active in politics.
• He studied English from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University. Early in his political career, he worked as a research assistant to Labor leader Tessa Jowell, a parliamentary officer at the NHS Confederation and an administrator in the football task force.
• In 2001, he was elected MP for the first time from the Leigh area of ​​Greater Manchester. After this he held many important government posts, including Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Home Department, Health Minister, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Culture Secretary.
• He was the Health Secretary from 2009 to 2010. During this time, he led government efforts to the swine flu epidemic and initiated an independent investigation into the Stafford Hospital controversy.
• He took part in the Labor Party leadership election in 2010, but lost to Ed Miliband. After this he held positions like Shadow Education Secretary and Shadow Health Secretary.
• In 2015, he again contested the Labor leadership election, but lost to Jeremy Corbyn. Later he became Shadow Home Secretary.
• In 2017, he left the post of MP to become the first Mayor of Greater Manchester and won the election and became the Mayor. After this, he was re-elected mayor in 2021 and 2024 also.
• As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham made major reforms to the public transport system. He initiated the transformation of bus and tram services into a locally controlled network, which was named the ‘B Network’.
• He was dubbed the ‘King of the North’ by the media and supporters for his campaign to demand greater financial support for communities in northern England during the COVID-19 pandemic.