Starmer seen as likely to announce an exit timetable as rival Burnham heads to UK Parliament

LONDON (AP) 鈥� Expectation is building that U.K. Prime Minister will set out a timetable for his resignation as soon as Monday, conceding to pressure from his Labour Party to hand over the reins of power.

If he does, Starmer will be the sixth prime minister in a decade to stand outside 10 Downing Street and announce a premature departure.

Starmer spent the weekend pondering his future following the victory of intraparty rival in a for a seat in Parliament. Burnham, until last week the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, ran with the aim of for leadership of the party and the country.

Burnham is due to be sworn in as a member of Parliament on Monday.

Starmer鈥檚 office declined to comment on resignation reports, but Business Secretary Peter Kyle said Sunday that Starmer is 鈥渕aking time to reflect on the political realities, challenges and opportunities that he finds himself in.鈥�

It鈥檚 unclear whether Burnham would face a coronation or a challenge, if Starmer steps aside. , who resigned as health secretary last month to protest Starmer鈥檚 leadership, has said that he will run in a contest if there is one.

Discontent with the prime minister has been building for months, with Labour lawmakers desperate to reverse the government鈥檚 decline in popularity since Starmer led the center-left party to in July 2024.

He has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair and ease the cost of living, and has been hamstrung by , including his decision to appoint , a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as the U.K. ambassador to the United States.

Labour is losing liberal voters to the growing Green Party and facing a rising , the -led anti-immigration party that consistently leads in nationwide opinion polls.

U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in even before an announcement, linking Starmer鈥檚 potential exit to two of his recurring bugbears: immigration and renewable energy.

鈥淜eir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT,鈥� Trump posted on his social media platform.

It was unclear whether Trump was responding to media reports about Starmer鈥檚 plans. The two leaders didn’t speak over the weekend.

Starmer鈥檚 initially warm relationship with the president has soured in recent months over issues including the , which the U.K. didn鈥檛 join.

In contrast to missteps on the domestic front, Starmer has won praise for his international role, notably in in its fight against Russia’s invasion, and working to mitigate the economic and political turmoil unleashed by the Iran conflict.

While many Labour lawmakers have rallied behind Burnham, some have said that Starmer had been treated unfairly. London legislator Neil Coyle railed on X against 鈥渢he prospect of an utter stitch-up & the media circus being rewarded.

鈥淲hen the next leader cannot change Trump, Iran, Ukraine, Putin, Musk, broadcast editorial & algorithm bias overnight they鈥檒l bay for his blood too. Better keep that guillotine sharp,鈥� he wrote.

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