So not interested in the personalities, but about the fact that it is likely the UK will have another PM not voted on via a GE, but as a result of internal party factions.
So Starmer is sixth PM to be ousted by their own party since 1990. If you exclude 1990 (Thatcher) it is 5 PMs in the past 19 years. Blair, May, Johson, Truss, Starmer.
Before that Lloyd George 1922 and Chamberlain 1940.
A quick YouGov poll today showed that the majority thought Burnham should be challenged, and then whoever wins the internal Labour voting, there should be a general election. (See https://account.yougov.com/gb-en/account/daily-questions - though suspect this link is only valid for today 23 June 26) [fn]
Labour has outlined their internal process should anyone stand against Burnham - https://labourlist.org/2026/06/timetable-for-leadership-contest-confirmed-by-nec/
So on one level I have got sort of accustomed to PMs coming and going, and technically, even though we vote for a local MP, we are voting for a Party. Is there any reason to think somehow this breaks the bond (assuming there was one) between Party and voter?
Or is it because our politics now is personality politics, and if it was instead about the Party, we would just accept that if they feel it is necessary to make a change to who is PM they should just get on and do it?
Or is it that we the voters think of it as personality contest and somehow think that magically one person will change the direction of a Party. Although technically the UK is governed by the Cabinet not the PM.
Or is it that irrespective of voters, all parties are not a cohesive group but an endless battle between factions and for party members who wins these internal wars are the most important. Not for the benefit of voters but to be the top faction (for a while).
[fn] I took a longer version of the YouGov poll invite by email, and pleased to say this time they asked for Sex, and then in a follow up question asked about Gender Identity – if you have one. Not sure when they made this change but first time I have seen it.