News dealt a huge blow to prime minister as political editor Robert Peston warned viewers that he could be nearing the end as leader. Peston appeared on the Talking Politics show earlier this week to deliver his own verdict, admitting: "I am literally staggered by the number of very senior Labour people, including members of the cabinet, who talk openly about the real possibility, they say, of Starmer not leading them into the next election."

He explained: "It's a massive talking point. There are a lot of individuals at the highest level who have lost confidence in him. I slightly think this is sort of early Parliament jitters. The thing about politicians is, you know, they love to catastrophise, all of that stuff, but for this to be a subject of conversation at the top of the Labour Party so few months after they've won a landslide, is for me, astonishing."

Viewers, however, weren't quite as staggered. One penned on X, formerly Twitter: "Unlike @Peston I am not staggered to hear that already @UKLabour are talking of ditching Keir Starmer.

"He's lost so much confidence/trust and never really had popularity to begin with. The sooner he goes and someone like Emily Thornberry or Andy Burnham becomes leader, the better."

Someone else predicted: "The end is nearing for Starmer." Another echoed: "I'm not surprised. He promised change and instead opted to take money off pensioners and doomed many to cold misery."

Others, however, disagreed, with one writing: "Not only will Starmer stay on but he will win the next election too." Another posted: "I absolutely disagree. See what he achieves first."

A poll back in January 2025 found that Brits believed Starmer would be ousted within one year, with 68% of those asked saying he was doing "badly" in the job. The Deltapoll survey, carried out for the Mail on Sunday, found 69% thought the country was heading in the wrong direction.

20% of respondents thought would be the UK's next PM. Meanwhile, 46% of voters thought Conservative leader was not doing well at her job, and in a list of concerns that most affected voters, the cost of living crisis came top.