Sir Keir Starmer’s miserable 2026 seems to be getting worse by the day, with many in his own party calling on him to step down less than two years after winning a historic general election landslide.
It all started to go wrong in the second half of last year, 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.
This year saw 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 PM to step down.
That was a clear warning sign of what would come in last week’s elections, which saw Labour lose control in Wales, slump to joint second with Reform UK in Scotland, and lose a string of English councils.
The Prime Minister has also suffered the scandal linking former British Ambassador to the United States Lord Mandelson to financier sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
It means that there is now huge speculation about who will succeed Sir Keir when he eventually stands aside - or is forcibly removed - from office.
In a speech earlier this week he made clear that he intends to continue in the job until the next election - but others within his own party may have a different view.
And now it seems as if it may only be a matter of time before a leadership challenge is triggered - with Wes Streeting looking like the most likely catalyst.
Here are the 11 most likely candidates to become the next Prime Minister according to the bookies.
Make sure you don't miss a moment of breaking news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here.
1. Wes Streeting - 5/2
For the first time, Wes Streeting is the 5/2 favourite to succeed Keir Starmer. The Health Secretary has previously insisted he is "not challenging the Prime Minister", despite a briefing war where some close to Keir Starmer said he was after the top job. That pledge seems to be at an end though, with some speculating it's only a matter of time before a leadership bid is launched - perhaps before the end of the week. | AFP via Getty Images
2. Andy Burnham - 11/4
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is a hugely popular figure with both Labour MPs and voters and has consistantly refused to rule out standing in any leadership challenge. The one 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. However word has it that he has some allies who would step down as MPs in order to let him stand. That would take time though, meaning a swift contest triggered by Wes Streeting could leave him out in the cold. That's why his odds have slipped to 11/4. | Getty Images
.jpeg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
3. Angela Rayner - 9/2
Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, lost her place in cabinet after she breached the ministerial code by underpaying stamp duty on a property in Hove. The bookies don't think her political career is finished yet though - she's the 9/4 third favourite to take over as Labour leader - and Prime Minister - following Keir Starmer. | Getty Images
4. Ed Miliband - 13/2
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband unexpectedly lost the 2015 General Election to David Cameron by 10 seats, effectively beginning the process of Brexit. It would be one of the more remarkable political comebacks if he was able to give becoming PM another shot. The bookies reckon he has an 13/2 chance of belatedly moving into Downing Street. | AFP via Getty Images