Is anyone actually surprised that Keir Starmer is resigning as UK PM?

Question

Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister, has announced his resignation, after mounting pressure from his own Labour Party and the public, including other world leaders, about his handling of internal and external UK affairs.

Who is surprised by this?

Since 2016, just 10 years ago, the UK has had 5 Prime Ministers:

Theresa May (2016-2019)
Boris Johnson (2029-2022)
Liz Truss (2022-2022)
Rishi Sunak (2022-2024)
Keir Starmer (2024-2026)

ODC2112 · Accepted Answer

When the economy is doing well, society is cohesive, and problems are manageable, governments tend to last and appear "stable". However, when multiple crises arise (economic, social, and geopolitical), instability amplifies: leaders fall one after another because no one is able to meet high expectations in a difficult context.
In the case of the United Kingdom, this pattern has been evident for years. Historically, the Westminster system (majoritarian, two-party) produced stable governments: from the post-war period to the 2010s, prime ministers lasted an average of five years or more (Thatcher 11 years, Blair almost 10). After Brexit (2016), everything changed.
The problem is that the UK grew from 1995 to 2016 thanks to the single market and the attraction of mid- to high-skilled personnel from Europe, particularly Southern Europe. With Brexit, many of them left, and the rest fled with COVID.
The decline in EU workers has been partially offset by a boom in non-EU migration (India, Nigeria, Pakistan, etc.), thanks to the new, more open post-Brexit points system for skilled workers, students, and humanitarian schemes (Hong Kong, Ukraine). Overall, the foreign workforce is slightly larger than it would have been without Brexit (~200,000 workers in 2024). New non-EU migrants often face higher or more extreme integration costs, greater language barriers, and more volatile flows (students, temporary visas).
The loss of easy access to the EU talent pool (especially in the South and East) has contributed to stagnant productivity, labour shortages, and weaker growth. Recent studies estimate that Brexit has reduced UK GDP by 6-8% compared to a Remain scenario (gradually accumulated), with lower investment of 12-18% and reduced productivity.
This is not the only factor (2008 financial crisis, austerity, Covid, energy, and global inflation), but it is a structural one. The single market + free movement provided a boost that's missing today, and the non-EU replacement isn't perfect (bureaucratic costs, friction).
The United Kingdom had a unique package: budget rebate (Thatcher's famous "I want my money back"), opt-out from Schengen, the euro, some aspects of justice and security, etc. As a new member, the UK would have to start from scratch and accept the full acquis communautaire. Any opt-out or discount would have to be renegotiated and approved unanimously by the 27 member states + the European Parliament. Many countries (especially those paying more) would be reluctant to give the "returnee" the same discounts as before.
During the Brexit negotiations (and even before), the tone of many British tabloids and politicians was often contemptuous of "Brussels" and Southern and Eastern Europeans. This anti-EU rhetoric has left its mark. Many Europeans (especially in France, Italy, and Spain) are displeased by the perceived arrogant behaviour, and the response from many states is simply "Fuck you." The United Kingdom cannot afford another 10-15 years of relative stagnation caused by the "Bregret."
To Southern and Eastern Europeans, the British are fat, alcoholic, stupid, passive-aggressive, and ignorant, with rotten teeth and slackers, who nevertheless think they are superior to everyone else and still have the empire.
Things in the UK will only get worse with each passing year. The costs are accumulating in a structural and visible way; in a few years, we will see the British fleeing the UK on boats. Today's UK has truly become an Italy without Italy's virtues and with all of Britain's historical flaws (and a few more).
Italian government instability, stagnant productivity, exasperating bureaucracy, populist rhetoric... combined with the English climate, English food (a crime against humanity), English alcoholism, English classism, and English post-imperial arrogance.

RavVid · Accepted Answer

Not surprised at all. Prime Ministers live and die by opinion polls.

I think we have got Australian PM Albanese on the ropes so he'll be next. Certainly he won't be contesting the next election cause he has buggared up too much. Which means he will be retiring in disgrace this next twelvemonth.

It is a reason to love the Westminster parliamentary system, that we can sack PMs in effect.

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

The rot started after Brexit, any PM who wasn't following a hard right agenda was constantly slaughtered in the popular press. Even social media went from simply poking fun at PMs to none stop attacks.

None of this is particularly new but the scale and nastiness has increased.
Truth is whoever was PM was going to be driven out.

Another factor is the vote is now split far wider. It used to be Tories, and Labour getting the lions share with lib dem in the middle picking up about 20% and extremist parties like the greens or Nazi type only getting a tiny number. These days the votes are more equally distributed about 10-25% each. Activist know they don't need most people to like them, only enough so whoever is elected about 80% are going to hate them.

SaoirseS · Accepted Answer

No. The only continuity at 10 Downing Street is Larry the cat.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Not surprised, and don't you appreciate the irony in Brits telling us how fucked up the US is in the political arena?

Just_Ken · Answer

Resigned more like pushed. The loses to reform are why he went.

Despite getting only 5 seats at the last general election they still got 14.3% of the vote. Compare that to the Liberal Democrats who got 72 seats for 12% of the vote.

His failure to address the grooming rape gangs, two tier policing, anti white racism in British institutions, crime by migrants, the numbers of migrants, the huge bill for put migrants up in hotels etc. A report came out that 1in 4 sexual assaults in Britain are committed by foreign nationals

OneViewpoint · Answer

How does the UK government continue to function? Or does it function these days? How can any government function in uncertainty about leadership and time to carry out policy? I mean the USA is completely schizophrenic and undependable these days. But our mood swings kick in every 4 years. How can anyone get anything done if leadership is rolling over and quitting every 2 years? Consistency and stability matter when you are trying to implement policy affecting large groups of people.

MrChinaski · Answer

It's the economy, stupid.

The UK economy has done poorly since the 2008 financial crisis and Brexit didn't help.

When the pie grows there is more tax revenue sloshing around that lets governments show they are fixing things. Cutting ribbons is easy.

When the pie stales instead it is harder to govern. You need to make hard choice and speak persuasively.

UK leaders have not been up to the challenge.

Anonymous · Answer

no is surprising he lasted this long , but the political reality will hit the new guy sooner than later , he might be more popular for a period of time but long term he's more than likely to deal with same issues as Starmer unless he actually finds solutions to peoples problems around inflation and cost of living

lightbulb27 · Answer

yes, they should learn to "stick it in their ears"... unless he's really messed up, then finish the term. what is wrong with this country?  They are nuts...

DeeDeeDeVour · Answer

They're weaklings! Bring Margaret Thatcher or Winston Churchill back from the dead.

strateguy632 · Answer

when you are failing let someone else replace. good decision. he sent one small ship to escort shipping in hormuz. one!

jshm2 · Answer

Yeah it's called "The Zelensky curse" Everyone who the Ukraine regine supports... end up failing from power.

DonaldDarko · Answer

Cvil unrest is building in the UK. He was probably scared. He was the worst of a bad lot. He should get out of the country.

usernameobvious · Answer

I'm a little surprised yes because it seemed to go away from the headlines, about weeks ago or month ago. Ah well.

Ill_made_Knight · Answer

not really. He did last longer than a cabbage in the sun, so there's that.

noohair · Answer

Not British so I don’t get involved in internal politics of another country. What I did not know until recently was that he was the prosecutor that dismissed all the Pakistani rape gang cases. How he got so far with that baggage is mystifying.

Levin · Answer

He's a socialist. You normally have to drag them kicking and screaming from power.

beenherebefore · Answer

I'm more surprised that whoever takes that role eventually resigns.

exitseven · Answer

At least he is not being removed like the Ayatollahs were.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Yes and no. He seemed like a stubborn one, but given recent history and his approval ratings I'm not surprised

Kelly6 · Answer

@aviatortom UK prime ministers re-sign like flys. 😆😆😆😆 Any GOT fan can decode it. Lol

Staglioni · Answer

I lived in England during the Cameron-May-Johnson stretch so you guys can't surprise me anymore😅

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

A little. With the sh*t storm he helped create shining brightly in the headlines, whodahell can they replace him with that won’t f*ck up all his hard work by trying to fix it?

Massageman · Answer

Not really. Things are just getting too weird over there lately.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm more surprised he did get shot be it assassinated like Spencer Percival or taking himself out rather than left the truth air

Billlewis · Answer

Just remember: the failings of big gov't that are wreaking havoc in the U. K. are exactly what the Dems want to do here.

Dargil · Answer

They should call security and a taxi for him and escort him out. Thatcher was the best man for the job.

robocop666 · Answer

one of them sanctioned a UK journalist for reporting in side ukriane. Graham Philips.

Shiprex · Answer

The UK media is what causes this storm of whimsical power plays.

Manuelwe · Answer

He only fault that America voted for Trump.  It those brain dead sub humans voted for Camilla Harris. We all be a little richer. As rejoining Europe

mrshooiser · Answer

He is evil. Good riddance.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Not surprised. It has become too frequently.

FrodoSkywalker007 · Answer

From what I've heard, no

Paige2006 · Answer

Not surprised! He was terrible!

Is anyone actually surprised that Keir Starmer is resigning as UK PM?

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