This week British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been fighting for his political survival as more than 80 members of his own party have asked him to step down, and recent polls show him to be Britain’s most unpopular leader on record. Just two years ago Starmer entered Downing Steet after winning a landslide victory – where did it all go wrong?
Why is the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer so unpopular?
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Story Timeline
Thu 13:50 - BBC Headlines
How does the BBC report polling day?
Tue 10:53 - BBC Headlines
What photo ID will you need to vote in the elections?
Tue 12:37 - Gazeta Wyborcza (PL)
Local elections in England. A Pole from Farage's party: "Only we can change something"
Wed 10:40 - Euronews
Hard-right Reform UK party eyes huge new gains in local elections on Thursday
Wed 11:59 - France 24
Looking ahead to the UK's local elections with British politics expert Colm Murphy
Wed 18:10 - France 24
Starmer's last stand? The UK local elections
Wed 22:59 - BBC Politics
Millions across England, Scotland and Wales to vote in key elections
Thu 01:33 - France 24
Keir Starmer's leadership set to be tested as polls open in UK local elections
Thu 03:30 - Gazeta Wyborcza (PL)
Expert on the elections in England: The defeat of the Labor Party may lead to a change in the position of prime minister
Thu 04:01 - NYT Europe
Starmer Faces a Major Test in a Set of UK Elections: What to Know
Thu 04:01 - NYT Europe
Starmer Braces for Local Election Losses Amid New Era of UK Politics
Thu 07:03 - NRK (NO)
A fateful choice for Starmer
Thu 07:16 - DW
UK votes in key local and regional elections
Thu 07:16 - DW All
UK votes in key local and regional elections
Thu 07:16 - DW Top
UK votes in key local and regional elections
Thu 07:16 - DW World
UK votes in key local and regional elections
Thu 07:36 - Euronews
Voting under way in UK local elections seen as a verdict on Keir Starmer's leadership
Thu 09:33 - France 24
Britons set to punish Starmer's Labour in local polls
Thu 09:41 - France 24
UK voters cast ballots in elections expected to deal blow to Starmer
Thu 23:43 - El Mundo (ES)
The English local elections crumble the Labor 'castle' in Camden: "I support Polanski because he is not Starmer"
Fri 04:03 - Middle East Eye
Mandelson: How decades of influence secured role as Starmer's man in Washington
Fri 07:41 - ANSA Top News
Starmer, very heavy vote result but the government moves forward
Fri 07:41 - ANSA Mondo
Starmer, very heavy vote result but the government moves forward
Fri 07:54 - El Mundo (ES)
Keir Starmer announces that he will not resign despite Labor's setback in the municipal elections
Fri 08:49 - La Repubblica (IT)
Local elections in England, Farage speaks after the triumph: "Right and left no longer exist"
Fri 09:43 - ANSA Main
Local elections in the United Kingdom, Starmer: "Result that hurts, my responsibility"
Fri 15:40 - France 24
Substantial win for Nigel Farage's Reform UK in local elections
Fri 16:55 - Politico EU
UK election mauling leaves Keir Starmer promising hope — but little change
Fri 19:11 - France 24
British PM Starmer says he won't quit after local elections drubbing
Fri 22:51 - Financial Times
Labour MPs call on Keir Starmer to quit after heavy election defeat
Fri 23:53 - NYT Europe
Takeaways From the 2026 U.K. Local Elections
Sat 11:19 - France 24
UK local elections: "Starmer must address voters' frustration over change"
Sat 13:32 - BBC Politics
PM turns to old Labour hands after election losses but some MPs left baffled
Sat 23:02 - BBC Headlines
The Papers: 'Plot to oust Starmer' and 'Gord help us all'
Sun 02:02 - Fox News
Labour MP puts Cabinet 'on notice,' threatens to trigger leadership challenge against Starmer by Monday
Sun 09:02 - France 24
Starmer vows to stay on after local elections deliver losses for Labour
Sun 10:31 - BBC Politics
'We need to move quickly,' says Labour MP seeking to challenge PM
Sun 12:44 - France 24
Scottish independence calls grow after Labour losses shake Starmer’s leadership
Sun 15:26 - Politico EU
Keir Starmer’s defences: Has the dam broken?
Sun 16:20 - BBC Politics
Can Starmer survive as PM? Seven scenarios for what might happen next
Sun 16:47 - NYT Europe
Keir Starmer Says No, He Won’t Resign
Sun 17:09 - The Guardian
Angela Rayner calls blocking Andy Burnham’s return to parliament a mistake as pressure mounts on Keir Starmer – as it happened
Sun 21:55 - France 24
Starmer under pressure: “Swapping leaders won’t fix problems,” says former Labour adviser
Mon 02:00 - Politico EU
Keir Starmer has one last chance to avoid Labour leadership chaos
Mon 07:12 - Al Jazeera English
UK’s Keir Starmer faces likely challenge following Labour’s election defeat
Mon 10:09 - France 24
REPLAY: Under-pressure UK PM addresses nation after election losses
Mon 10:13 - France 24
Britain’s Starmer vows to prove ‘doubters’ wrong as he fights ouster calls
Mon 10:27 - Politico EU
Keir Starmer leaves door open to ditching his Brexit red lines
Mon 10:49 - France 24
PM Starmer clings on to power as Labour rivals make moves
Mon 10:55 - DW World
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer 'not walking away' after local election mauling
Mon 11:34 - Al Jazeera English
UK PM Keir Starmer vows stronger performance as calls for resignation grow
Mon 13:04 - France 24
Starmer vows to prove 'doubters' wrong, bring UK closer to the EU to rescue his job
Mon 13:08 - France 24
UK's Starmer promises to be bolder to try to rescue his job
Mon 15:24 - France 24
Starmer pledges to bring Britain closer to the EU as he faces calls to step down
Mon 15:30 - The Guardian
EU preparing to offer key concession to UK in new post-Brexit agricultural deal
Mon 17:15 - BBC Europe
'Britain at the heart of Europe': How Starmer's plans are going down in the EU
Mon 19:59 - Fox News
Starmer on the brink: UK PM fights for survival as party takes beating in local elections
Mon 23:13 - France 24
Pressure mounts on British PM Starmer to quit after crushing Labour election losses
Tue 07:41 - Al Jazeera English
Starmer to face split cabinet as demands for his resignation mount
Tue 09:02 - Al Jazeera English
LIVE: UK’s Starmer vows to ‘get on with governing’ as MPs urge him to quit
Tue 09:29 - Euronews
'Farage surge makes Starmer's EU push more important than ever,' UK minister tells Euronews
Tue 09:45 - DW
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as first junior minister resigns
Tue 09:45 - DW All
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as first junior minister resigns
Tue 09:45 - DW World
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as first junior minister resigns
Tue 09:45 - DW Top
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as first junior minister resigns
Tue 09:45 - DW
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as two junior ministers quit
Tue 09:45 - DW All
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as two junior ministers quit
Tue 09:45 - DW World
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as two junior ministers quit
Tue 09:45 - DW Top
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as two junior ministers quit
Tue 09:45 - DW
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as four junior ministers quit
Tue 09:45 - DW World
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as four junior ministers quit
Tue 09:45 - DW All
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as four junior ministers quit
Tue 09:45 - DW Top
UK: Keir Starmer tells Cabinet he will continue in place, as four junior ministers quit
Tue 09:50 - Euronews
UK PM Keir Starmer says he will stay in office as junior minister quits government
Tue 10:17 - BBC Politics
Watch: Keir Starmer's message of defiance to his own party
Tue 10:19 - France 24
UK prime minister faces growing internal pressure to resign
Tue 10:19 - BBC Politics
At a glance: Starmer grapples with leadership crisis
Tue 10:29 - NYT Europe
UK’s Starmer Faces Calls to Resign. Here Are 4 Ways He Could Respond.
Tue 10:54 - France 24
'There is a big rejection of Starmer' from Labour voters as PM faces calls to resign
Tue 12:22 - BBC Politics
Jess Phillips's resignation letter in full
Tue 13:50 - BBC Politics
Henry Zeffman: Keir Starmer fights back for now
Tue 13:52 - Washington Examiner
Starmer resists resignation calls after Labour Party loses local elections
Tue 14:50 - France 24
'King of North' Andy Burnham: 'Widely thought' most capable of rebuilding Labour's loose coalition
Tue 15:03 - France 24
Starmer stands his ground despite growing pressure to resign
Tue 16:50 - Washington Examiner
Keir Starmer dragged toward Downing Street exit
Tue 19:06 - France 24
Starmer faces calls to quit: “Step aside or give No 10 to Nigel Farage,” says former Labour adviser
Tue 21:14 - NYT Europe
Why Keir Starmer Remains in Deep Peril After Staving Off Calls for Resignation
Tue 22:07 - BBC Headlines
Watch: Resignations, drama and defiance at Downing Street
Wed 00:30 - Al Jazeera English
Starmer at risk because he pushed Labour to be ‘new Conservative Party’
Wed 04:01 - NYT Europe
Britain Has Had 5 Leaders in a Decade. Is It About to Get Another?
Wed 09:38 - France 24
How Keir Starmer could be replaced as UK PM after discontent rises in his own party
Wed 09:56 - BBC Politics
Starmer must go before next election, say Labour-backing unions
Wed 10:01 - NYT Europe
As Starmer Rejects Calls to Resign, Some Make Comparisons to President Biden
Wed 16:29 - France 24
Why is the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer so unpopular?