Ever since the May 7 Labour wipeout in the local council elections - elections, mind you, that British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer knew he was on course to get savaged in, so tried mightily to cancel or postpone for one flimsy reason or another until taken to court by Nigel Farage's Reform UK - Starmer has heard what might be described as the ticking of the clock in Capatin Hook's crocodile following him around.
The ticking only got louder as Labour ministers resigned either in disgust that Starmer himself had not at the election losses the party had suffered. A prime minister resigning is the polite, responsible, and correct thing to do under such circumstances and, in fact, a course of action Starmer himself had urged on others in his position when things went horribly awry. Other ministers and former friends exited the pattern to plot their own paths to claiming the keys and the cat at No. 10 Downing Street if internecine party leadership war broke out, as it very much looked like it would.
When the most popular Labour Party member, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, leapt his last hurdle to challenging for the throne by winning the Member of Parliament (MP) seat from Makerfield in a by-election held this past Thursday, it was all but inevitable that every eye would now turn to Starmer in speculative focus.
Would Starmer stay or would he go?
By last night, rumours were flying that the prime minister, who had sworn he had a mandate until 2029 and wouldn't leave for love, blood, or money, was closeted with family and friends over finally throwing in the towel without a damaging leadership fight.
🚨BREAKING: Keir Starmer will make a decision over the weekend with his family over whether he will resign in disgrace as Prime Minister, per the Times
— Inevitable West (@Inevitablewest) June 19, 2026
I think this is it… 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/E4TTq9CBUp
There were rumours that the nut had started to crack early this afternoon as Labour MPs began to publicly abandon the sinking Starmer ship.
Labour grandees turning on Starmer marks the painful end of his premiership https://t.co/KH8wMRKwfm pic.twitter.com/vjquOrpsl4
— The Independent (@Independent) June 20, 2026
Even the BBC, Starmer's useful government propaganda tools for his two years of authoritarian chaos, were downcast this morning at the 'fading' chances of the fellow they'd worked so hard to lie to the British public for.
I checked again today, and yup. Still not a peep on the BBC about the Rape Gang Inquiry Report.
— AwakenedOutlaw⚒️ (@AwakenedOutlaw) June 20, 2026
How long do you reckon they'll hold out before they're forced to report on the biggest story in their own country and one of the top stories on the planet?
Weird, right? https://t.co/ZjT6UsMoI1 pic.twitter.com/0JEewO5aFI
ALAS, SIR KEIR - WE KNEW YOU WELL
Talk of Starmer staying on to fight is fading - fast
"We promised people we weren't going to do this."
There is exasperation in the voice of a long time Labour adviser. But as every hour passes, it is more likely the UK will soon have its seventh prime minister in 10 years.
Talk of Sir Keir Starmer fighting is fading, his exit seems more likely as the weekend goes on. The prime minister is at his country retreat, Chequers, spending time with his wife.
The man coming for his job, Andy Burnham, is spending the weekend with his family, away from home too.
The reasons for Labour to switch leader are compelling. Andy Burnham looks like a winner. He has shown he can beat Reform, who until this moment have seemed a deadly threat to Labour. He is popular in the country, compared to most politicians at least. There are swathes of MPs eager to back him and his brand, believing he's the one who can improve the party's grim position.
"He's an instinctive guy – that's his great talent," said one source.
Oh, the BBC kept a loyal stiff upper lip going for as long as they could in the face of this catastrophe. Even as they were forced to report on the gloom, doom, and every being so mean.
LEAVE SIR KEIR ALONE!!!!
...One party source told me: "My experience of working with his administration is - the fundamental part of the job of prime minister and Labour Party leader is to be a political leader and he is neither political nor a leader.'"
That is brutal. But many in Labour would agree it's true, even though they'd point to achievements during his time in power – progress on pushing down NHS waiting lists, immigration coming down, his handling of foreign affairs and a growing economy.
The vow not to repeat the Conservatives' habit of switching prime minister might be the last political promise Starmer breaks.
And now most of the mainstream British press is reporting Starmer will announce his resignation and last day in office on Monday (And thanks to my girlfriend Leslie Eastman at Legal Insurrection for the heads up - we've both been glued to news about this).
Keir Starmer has resigned
— The Independent (@Independent) June 27, 2016
Burnham's win was the last straw for the few holdouts still rallying around the beleaguered, reviled, and ineffectual PM.
Keir Starmer is preparing to set out a timetable for his departure from No 10 this week after Andy Burnham’s triumphant return to Westminster in the Makerfield byelection.
— The Observer (@ObserverUK) June 20, 2026
Read @RSylvester1's exclusive now: https://t.co/jDE4INemuC pic.twitter.com/kBqDuqlckW
In a wild dash of irony, the most despised British Prime Minister in recent British history is now concerned about his 'legacy.'
🚨 A senior government figure told The Telegraph Sir Keir Starmer was realising that the “game is up” and his thoughts were now turning to how he could “shore up his legacy”
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 20, 2026
đź”—: https://t.co/cZSmtD79US pic.twitter.com/umWZp5GiRv
It's a little late to worry about what kind of job you didn't do now, wouldn't you think?
Actually, no. He wouldn't.
He's never had the first clue.
Tick tock all the way to Monday.
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