British PM set to resign after challenger's thumping by-election win

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly on the brink of resignation or expected to announce a timeline for his departure, following mounting pressure over the weekend. The Labour leader's position has become untenable after a resounding by-election victory for Labour candidate Andy Burnham in Makerfield, North England.

Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who consistently polls as the UK's most popular politician, had indicated he would challenge Starmer for the party leadership if he won the by-election. His decisive win, against expectations of a close contest with the Reform UK candidate, has led many within the Labour party to believe he would be a stronger leader to face the Conservatives in the next general election.

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If there is a [leadership] contest, just to be clear with you, then yes, I will run, I will stand. I've said repeatedly I'm not going to walk away from that.

Key figures within the government, including Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, are understood to have urged Starmer to step down. Government insiders have been briefing journalists that Starmer's position is untenable, marking a significant shift from the Labour leader's previous stance.

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making time this weekend to try and reflect on the political challenges that he faces. He's also taking the time to think through what the political realities are today compared to last week, the week before. But I know that he is a prime minister who always puts country first and that will be framing every decision that he makes today, on behalf of the country, in his day-to-day job as prime minister, but also when he thinks about the party going forward it will always be about what's in the best interests of the country.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle, a loyal ally, speaking on the BBC, acknowledged Starmer was reflecting on the political challenges and realities. Kyle stated that Starmer "always puts country first" and that all decisions would be framed by the nation's best interests. This contrasts sharply with Starmer's own comments on Friday, when he declared he would fight any leadership contest if one arose, stating he was "not going to walk away."

Adding to the pressure, former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on social media, predicting Starmer's resignation and criticizing his performance on immigration and North Sea oil output. Trump's intervention underscores the high-profile nature of the political turmoil surrounding the British Prime Minister.

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Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He has failed badly.