An American friendly guide to the UK's political crisis | The Global Story | The BriefWire
An American friendly guide to the UK's political crisis | The Global Story
Published on 5/20/2026, 4:00:39 PM
Key points· Video
Why Britain keeps losing prime ministers?
This is an American friendly guide to UK politics.
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.
Quick context: Why Britain keeps losing prime ministers?