Is the job of prime minister harder than ever

The news

Labour suffered heavy losses in last week's local elections, losing nearly 1,500 council seats while Reform UK gained around 1,450. Over 40 Labour MPs called for Keir Starmer's resignation, prompting speculation about a leadership challenge. Starmer is due to deliver a make-or-break speech on Monday addressing growth, defence, relations with Europe and energy.

What's at stake

The UK has seen six prime ministers in the past ten years, a period marked by the 2008 financial crash, Brexit, Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and energy shocks. Successive studies show backbench rebellions have become more common since the post-war era, with party management weakening under Major, Blair and the coalition governments. The rise of smaller parties such as Reform and the Greens has left governments with large majorities but weaker popular mandates, as voters disillusioned with mainstream parties seek quicker answers to complex problems.

Former prime minister Sir John Major has noted that governments have lost the capacity to say no, while voters expect quick and easy solutions. This shift from persuading voters at elections to threading competing demands has left recent prime ministers struggling to confront backbenchers and the public with difficult trade-offs.

The case for

Modern politics demands constant compromise across fragmented interests and impatient voters. The rise in support for anti-establishment parties reflects disillusionment with mainstream parties that voters believe have failed to address the UK's problems. Brexit created a culture of constant turmoil and rebellion, with Conservative MPs becoming accustomed to replacing leaders, a pattern that some believe later Labour MPs have absorbed as normal.

The case against

Prime ministers still hold the same formal powers and can lead with clear arguments. Starmer has pledged to prove his doubters wrong and insists he will lead Labour into the next general election in 2029. He argues that incremental change will not suffice and that the government must face up to big challenges with urgency and hope, maintaining that his leadership remains the route to delivering change.

Why it matters now

If Starmer survives the current pressure he will continue as prime minister until at least 2029, setting the direction on growth, defence and energy. A change of leader would reset the government's approach but risks further instability after six prime ministers in ten years. The next political milestone is the general election due in 2029.

Further reading

BBC News · The Guardian

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