Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (C) returns to the House of Commons after listening to the King’s speech during the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London on May 13, 2026.
TOBY MELVILLE / POOL / AFP
Five figures are said to be gunning for the job of PM—but none of them have braved an action yet.
No one from Labour has braved publicly standing up to Keir Starmer by launching a leadership bid yet. But reports suggest that this course of action is imminent—perhaps from up to five senior party officials.
The main one is Wes Streeting, the now-former health secretary, following his resignation today, May 14th. Sources say he is on the verge of launching a challenge.
And according to GB News, four others are readying themselves, too: Net Zero Secretary (and former Labour leader) Ed Miliband, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, former Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, who has just settled £40,000 (€46,000) in unpaid stamp duty, and outsider Al Carns, the veterans minister.
Chancellor, and Starmer loyalist, Rachel Reeves on Thursday warned potential leadership rivals that such a challenge risks “plunging the country into chaos”—as if Britain isn’t already in such a state. Indeed, The Daily Telegraphresponded by quoting its readers who say Starmer and Reeves “have already put the country in dire risk of financial collapse.”
The prime minister is himself reported to have said that a leadership race now would “destroy our party and destroy our country.” But, with more and more Labour figures turning against him, the PM’s position looks weaker by the moment.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice said after Wednesday’s King’s Speech that Starmer was “Britain’s most unpopular” prime minister,” and “possibly the worst prime minister ever.”
After just 22 months [of his ‘leadership’], all we have had is failure, incompetence, and negligence.
My attack on the UKs most unpopular Prime Minister and his woeful program of government.
The elections last week proved that voters want Reform!
Best bit of Kings Speech: they copied Reform policy to nationalise British Steel for sovereign steelmaking capability.
Until a serious challenge is launched against him, the PM will, of course, continue to cling on to power.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
