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.
The latter half of 2025 wasn’t much better, with a succession of problematic stories for the Premier, along with cabinet scandals and embarrassing u-turns - including on an income tax rise at the last budget.
And the worst was yet to come - courtesy of the scandal linking former British Ambassador to the United States Lord Mandelson to financier sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson has since been arrested by police.
The latest revelation is that Mandelson failed his security vetting clearance but that the Foreign Office overruled the decision to allow him to take up the role.
Sir Keir insists that he was never informed of the decision, but some political rivals have accused him of misleading parliament, calling for him to step down.
More poor performances for Labour at May’s Scottish Holyrood Election and English local elections could see any remaining support for the beleagured PM vanish.
There is now growing speculation over who will succeed him when he eventually stands aside - or is forcibly removed - from office.
Here are the 11 most likely candidates - according to the bookies.
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5. Shabana Mahmood - 10/1
Current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has impressed since taking on her role last September. She's now 10/1 to become Labour Leader. | Getty Images
6. Yvette Cooper - 16/1
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. She's another candidate who has seen her odds lengthen in the last few weeks - now up to 16/1. Her husband could also give her advice about any leadership campaign - Ed Balls unsuccessfully stood in 2010. | AFP via Getty Images
7. Sadiq Khan - 16/1
Sadiq Khan has won three consecutive elections for London's Mayor - making him one of the most powerful politicial figures in the country. Boris Johnson went from being the Mayor of London to leading his party and his country. The bookies reckon there's the 16/1 chance Khan will follow his career trajectory - his odds have halved in the last month. | Getty Images
8. John Healey - 12/1
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 is currently Secretary of State for Defence and has seen his odds lengthen in the last couple of weeks to take over from Keir Starmer - out to 20/1 from 12/1. | Getty Images