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A week is a long time in politics - and it seems like an eternity since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister following a Labour landslide at the General Election in July 2024.
Since then Nigel Farage’s Reform Party has been in the ascendancy, leading the polls and welcoming a series of high profile Conservative defectors - with Rupert Lowe now building support with his breakaway Restore Party.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been weakened by a series of u-turns, including scrapping plans to increase income tax at the last budget.
Then there’s also the ongoing scandal linking former British Ambassador to the United States Lord Mandelson to financier sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
With the next mandatory General Election not scheduled until August 2029 (that’s the latest date that it can be called) there’s still plenty of time for everything to change.
But it seems that Keir Starmer’s chances of leading his party into another nationwide poll is looking increasingly unlikely.
Here are the 12 current favourites to succeed him as next British Prime Minister - according to the bookies
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5. Shabana Mahmood - 12/1
Current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has impressed since taking on her role last September. She's 12/1 to become Labour Leader and Prime Minister. | Getty Images
6. Andy Burnham - 13/1
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is a hugely popular figure with both Labour MPs and voters. He's another potential candidate who has refused to rule out standing in any leadership challenge. The one (fairly large) problem is that he's not an MP so would need to contest and win a byelection first - something that he was recently blocked from doing by the party's NEC. That's perhaps why his odds on becoming next Prime Minister are as long as 13/1. | Getty Images
7. Yvette Cooper - 14/1
The last time Yvette Cooper attempted to become Labour leader was in 2015 following the resignation of Ed Miliband, coming third to eventual winner Jeremy Corbyn. The bookies reckon she has a 14/1 chance of going two better next time, taking over from Sir Keir Starmer. | Getty Images
8. Alistair Carns -14/1
Aberdeen-born politician Alistair Carns has only been an MP since 2024, having previously been an officer in the Royal Marines. He's priced at 14/1 for the job of Labour leader. | Getty Images