London: Keir Starmer’s resignation marks the latest chapter in a decade of political instability that has seen six prime ministers come and go since the Brexit referendum. Britain is now preparing for its seventh prime minister in ten years after Starmer announced he would step down once the Labour Party selects a successor.

According to Anadolu Agency, less than two years ago, Starmer entered Downing Street with a landslide election victory and a promise to restore stability after years of Conservative turmoil. “We said we would end the chaos and we will,” Starmer declared in 2024. Since 2016, the occupants of Number 10 have changed almost as frequently as the political crises confronting them. David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Starmer have each taken their turn, and Britain is now preparing for prime minister number seven in just a decade.

The contrast with previous decades is striking. Between 1979 and 2016, Britain had just five prime ministers: Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and David Cameron. Together, they governed for nearly four decades. The UK’s revolving door of leadership has kept spinning, starting with David Cameron, whose Brexit gamble ended his premiership in 2016, followed by Theresa May, who struggled to pass a Brexit withdrawal agreement. Boris Johnson, who promised to “get Brexit done,” faced scandals, while Liz Truss’s economic policies led to her swift resignation. Rishi Sunak took over in October 2022, promising stability, but his leadership ended with a heavy loss to Labour in the 2024 general election, bringing Starmer to power.

Starmer’s victory was supposed to mark a turning point, with a promise to restore trust in government. However, economic pressures persisted, Labour’s popularity declined, and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK emerged as a growing political force. By early 2025, Reform had overtaken Labour in some opinion polls, leading to a rebellion over welfare cuts and ministerial resignations that raised doubts about Starmer’s authority. Heavy losses in local elections further deepened concerns among Labour lawmakers about Starmer’s leadership.

In his resignation speech, Starmer acknowledged these challenges, stating, “The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer.” Starmer will remain prime minister until Labour selects a new leader. The party’s National Executive Committee is expected to open nominations on July 9. Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is widely viewed as the frontrunner after confirming his candidacy. Labour’s comfortable majority in the House of Commons means the leadership transition will not automatically trigger a general election. Once a new leader is chosen, King Charles III will invite them to form a government and become Britain’s next prime minister.