Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, has branded Keir Starmer as “a terrible Prime Minister” following his resignation as Labour leader and Prime Minister.
Starmer announced his resignation on Monday after less than two years in office, stating he would step down as Labour leader while remaining Prime Minister until a successor is elected.
In a post on X, Badenoch attributed a series of policy failures to Starmer’s administration, asserting that Britain was “not ungovernable.”
She accused the Labour government of raising National Insurance contributions, introducing what she referred to as the “Family Farm Tax,” abandoning meaningful welfare reforms, underfunding defence, failing to expand domestic oil and gas production, and appointing Peter Mandelson while allegedly misleading the public about the circumstances.
“Raising National Insurance. The Family Farm Tax. Giving up on genuine welfare reform. Not funding our defence. Not drilling for our own oil and gas. Appointing Peter Mandelson… then lying about what had happened.
“Britain is not ungovernable. Keir Starmer is a terrible Prime Minister,” she wrote.
The Conservative leader argued that the issue extended beyond Starmer, accusing Labour MPs of prioritising higher taxes to finance increased welfare spending.
“But the problem isn’t just Starmer. Labour MPs only want higher taxes to distribute more benefits, as the Welfare Secretary has pointed out. These are Labour’s choices and their values, irrespective of who is leading the party,” Badenoch added.
She called for a return to Conservative leadership, stating, “We need to get Britain working again. We need the Conservatives.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has joined a list of nine other prime ministers who didn’t complete their tenure in the country’s political history.
On Monday, 22 June 2026, Starmer resigned from office, a move analysts said would pave the way for an orderly transfer of power to a new leader by September.
The resignation, it was gathered, was to avoid political instability as Britain prepares for its seventh leader in 10 years.
Andy Burham is tipped to become the next Prime Minister.
In an emotion-laden speech, Starmer said he had listened to his governing Labour Party and realised that he was no longer the man who should lead it into a national election due in 2029. He has become the 10th British Prime Minister to resign rather than face an election loss.
This latest resignation brings back memories of successive British Prime Ministers who stepped down amid political dynamics, health concerns, and international factors.
Below is a catalogue of UK Prime Ministers who have resigned, along with the circumstances that led to their resignation.
Liz Truss, the third female Prime Minister, resigned in 2022 just after 44 days, making her the shortest-serving Prime Minister in UK history.
Boris Johnson resigned in 2022 following a massive wave of internal government resignations and ethics scandals.
Theresa May, the second woman to become Prime Minister in the UK, resigned in 2019 after failing to secure passage of her Brexit withdrawal agreement through Parliament.
David Cameron stepped down in 2016 after losing the pivotal referendum on European Union membership.
Tony Blair stepped down in 2007 as Labour Party leader and Prime Minister due to declining approval ratings following the war in Iraq.
Margaret Thatcher, the first woman to become Prime Minister in the UK, popularly called “The Iron Lady”, resigned in 1990 due to a revolt from her own cabinet and a challenge to her leadership.
Anthony Eden resigned in 1957 due to failing health and intense international pressure during the Suez Crisis.
Winston Churchill resigned in 1955 during his second term as Prime Minister due to declining health following a stroke.
Neville Chamberlain resigned in 1940 during World War II over his alleged inability to tame the incessant threats of Adolf Hitler, as his ‘Appeasement’ policy failed to dissuade Hitler from war mongering.
