Finance
Explainer-What happens if the UK's Starmer quits, or is challenged?
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 9, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 9, 2026
Quick Summary
Keir Starmer may resign or face a challenge due to controversy. A leadership contest would ensue, requiring candidates to secure significant MP support.
What Could Happen If Keir Starmer Resigns or Faces a Challenge?
LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing calls to step down with his team in crisis over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. - a decision that has backfired following revelations about the depth of Mandelson's relationship with U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Consequences of Starmer's Resignation or Challenge
Here's what happens if Starmer resigns or faces a leadership challenge:
WHAT IF STARMER RESIGNS?
What Happens If Starmer Resigns?
The party would hold a leadership contest to replace him.
Any candidate wishing to stand would need to secure the support of 20% of Labour members of parliament. With Labour currently holding 404 seats, that equates to 81 backers.
Candidates also must meet thresholds for support from grassroots Labour Party organisations, and from affiliated organisations such as trade unions.
If only one candidate qualifies, there is no vote: the candidate is elected unopposed as Labour leader and becomes prime minister.
How Can Starmer's Leadership Be Challenged?
If more than one candidate qualifies, the winner is decided by a ballot of Labour members and affiliates. The winner then becomes prime minister.
HOW CAN STARMER'S LEADERSHIP BE CHALLENGED?
A leadership challenge can be triggered if there is enough support behind a candidate to replace Starmer.
Candidates to replace the prime minister would need to meet the 81 lawmaker threshold, as things currently stand. Starmer would automatically be on the ballot paper in any such contest.
The contest would then be run according to the same process that would follow a resignation.
It is generally harder for Labour lawmakers to remove a prime minister than the rival Conservative Party, which went through five prime ministers in eight years from 2016, because the Labour rebels have to rally behind specific candidates, rather than just a 'no confidence' in the leader.
Labour members of parliament have never successfully removed a sitting prime minister in the party's more than 125-year history.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair set a deadline for his departure after some junior members of his government resigned in 2006, but he did not quit immediately.
(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill and William JamesEditing by Ros Russell)
Key Takeaways
- •Keir Starmer faces calls to resign over a controversial appointment.
- •A leadership contest would follow Starmer's resignation.
- •Candidates need 20% support from Labour MPs to stand.
- •Labour's process for challenging leadership is complex.
- •Labour has never removed a sitting prime minister.
Frequently Asked Questions about Explainer-What happens if the UK's Starmer quits, or is challenged?
1What is the main topic?
The article discusses potential outcomes if Keir Starmer resigns or is challenged as UK Labour leader.
2How can Starmer's leadership be challenged?
A challenge requires a candidate to secure support from 20% of Labour MPs and meet other criteria.
3What happens if Starmer resigns?
A leadership contest would be held, with candidates needing significant backing from Labour MPs.
