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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9. Alistair Carns - 20/1
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 20/1 for the job of Labour leader. | Getty Images
10. David Lammy - 25/1
Priced at 25/1 for Labour's top job is current Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor David Lammy. He's been the MP for Tottenham for 26 years, having first been elected in 2000. | AFP via Getty Images
11. Darren Jones - 25/1
Former Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones took over as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations in the last cabinet reshuffle in September 2025. The former lawyer also a 25/1 shot to be the next person to lead his party. | Getty Images