In the 37 years from 1979 to 2016 Britain had five prime ministers, all but one of whom served at least one full term in office. In the 10 years since, the country has seen five leaders (six if one counts the last months of David Cameron). Four of those reached office without a general election, though one later secured a clear mandate. Boris Johnson and Theresa May served barely three years, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss far less.
Now there is talk of another change. Just 18 months after he was elected in a parliamentary landslide, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has had to begin 2026 insisting he can survive the year. Talks of plots to remove him after what are expected to be disastrous local elections in Wales, Scotland and England in May are swirling round Westminster.
There are valid questions about Starmer’s leadership. He has made serious errors and his MPs fear that he is not the man to avert a potential government led by Reform UK’s Nigel Farage at the next election.