It’s fair to say that Sir Keir Starmer hasn’t had a great 2026 so far, with questions being raised about his leadership less than two years after winning a historic general election landslide.
There was Labour’s third place in the Gorton and Denton byelection behind the victorious Green Party and Reform, which came just a couple of weeks after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for the leader to step down.
That was a clear warning sign of what would come in last month’s elections, which saw Labour lose control in Wales, slump to joint second with Reform UK in Scotland, and lose a string of English councils.
The Prime Minister has also suffered the scandal linking former British Ambassador to the United States Lord Mandelson to financier sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It means that there is now huge speculation about who will succeed Sir Keir when he eventually stands aside - or is forcibly removed - from office.
And that will be doubly so should Andy Burnham - as is expected - wins tomorrow’s (Thursday, June 18) Makerfield by-election and becomes eligible to challenge for the leadership of both the Labour Party and the country.
Here are the 10 most likely candidates to become the next Prime Minister according to the bookies.
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9. Shabana Mahmood - 35/1
Current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has impressed since taking on the job last September. She's now 35/1 to become the next Labour Prime Minister. | Getty Images
10. John Healey - 35/1
A real Labour stalwart, John Healey has been an MP since 1997 and held various junior ministerial positions under Tony Blair and Gorden Brown. He recently stepped down as Secretary of State for Defence due to budget disagreements and has seen his odds lengthen in the last few weeks to become next Prime Minister to 35/1. | Getty Images