Why Britain keeps losing prime ministers
5/20/202627 min
In the decade since Britain voted to leave the European Union, the country has cycled through six prime ministers, victims of both their own decisions, and global pressures.
Now, Sir Keir Starmer, the current prime minister and leader of the left-leaning Labour party, could be the seventh leader to fall, under pressure from members of his own party who feel he has failed to tackle key issues like the cost of living, immigration, and sluggish economic growth.
To top it off, recent local elections across the country proved disastrous for Labour as it lost ground to populist parties on both the left and right, and only two years after a landslide victory some of Sir Keir’s own party members are calling for him to step down.
How did British politics become so volatile? BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale joins us to explain.
Producers: Hannah Moore and Aron Keller
Executive producer: Richard Fenton-Smith
Mix: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
Photo:Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer makes a statement in number 10 Downing Street, Westminster. Credit: Jack Taylor/PA Wire
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsTristan Redman· Host0:00
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Tristan Redman· Host0:46
[instrumental music] Why does Britain keep losing its leaders?
Asma Khalid· Host0:53
Tristan, that is a question even we here on this side of the Atlantic are asking about British politics. And, uh, we might not know loads about how your system operates, but we've seen you all cycle through six prime ministers in 10 years since Brexit. I mean, it's a lot.
Tristan Redman· Host1:09
That's right, Asma. The most stable political operator in Downing Street over the last decade may have been a cat called Larry who lives there. [laughs] Uh, he's seen quite a few prime ministers come and go, and he might soon be seeing a new one.
Asma Khalid· Host1:24
[instrumental music] I've been reading that the current Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is under severe