November 5, 2026 1:52 PM

New Zealand leaders make final appeals as election remains tight

New Zealand's party leaders made final appeals to voters on Thursday, three days before a general election that polls show is too close to call as discontent around an ailing economy continues to swell. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters while campaigning in Hawke's Bay that the election would likely go down to the wire. "The message is pretty simple -- it's going to be tight and close," he told reporters, "we want to encourage everybody to get out and party vote National," urging...

October 26, 2026 2:14 PM

Early voting opens in New Zealand for November 7 election with no clear frontrunner

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the national election on November 7 would be decided on economic issues, as early voting opened on Monday in a race that polls suggest will be closely contested. With voters frustrated by a sluggish economy and persistently high inflation, the cost of living has emerged as a key election issue, prompting competing policy solutions from across the political spectrum. Luxon said his National Party had "the best plan" to help the economy to grow a...

June 22, 2026 4:19 PM

Starmer to quit: How Labour will choose Britain’s next Prime Minister

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday he would resign, with a new leader to be in place by the time parliament returns in September, paving the way for Britain to have its seventh leader in 10 years. Here's what happens next: HOW DOES A LEADERSHIP CONTEST WORK? Any candidate wishing to replace Starmer would need to secure the support of 20% of Labour members of parliament. With Labour currently holding 403 seats, that equates to 81 lawmakers, including the challenger. Candidates also mu...

June 22, 2026 2:57 PM

Keir Starmer to step down as UK Prime Minister, Labour leader; successor race begins

British Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer on Monday announced that he would step down, bringing an end to a turbulent period marked by growing discontent within his party and criticism of his government's policies. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer said he would remain Prime Minister until the Labour Party elects a new leader in the coming weeks. "The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard t...

May 15, 2026 3:18 PM

From ally to rival, Wes Streeting turns on UK PM Starmer

When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced growing calls to resign at the weekend, his health secretary, Wes Streeting, went to see "The Devil Wears Prada 2", a film which depicts a rival challenging a weakened leader. The parallels were difficult to escape on Thursday when Streeting was the first senior minister to resign in order to call for a leadership contest to replace his boss. While Streeting stopped short of triggering a formal leadership contest, his withering criticism of Starme...

May 15, 2026 12:13 PM

UK’s Starmer faces survival battle as potential rivals circle

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was struggling to hold on to power after his main rival in the government resigned on Thursday, accusing him of political drift, and others positioned themselves for potential challenges to his leadership. Disastrous results for the governing Labour Party in local elections last week have plunged Britain into a new crisis, just under two years after Starmer won a large majority on a vow to bring stability and end a decade of political chaos. After days of ca...

May 14, 2026 9:03 PM

What happens if the UK’s Starmer quits, or is challenged?

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's position is under serious threat after senior minister Wes Streeting quit and dozens of Labour lawmakers called for him to set out a timetable for his departure, or resign, in the wake of heavy losses in local elections. Here's what could happen next: HAS A LEADERSHIP CONTEST BEEN TRIGGERED? Not yet. Health minister Wes Streeting resigned on Thursday, saying Starmer wouldn't lead the party for much longer and should facilitate a leadership race with the ...

May 14, 2026 5:05 PM

Starmer vows to fight on ahead of possible leadership challenge

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced the increasing prospect of a leadership challenge on Thursday, with his health minister reported to be ready to resign and his former deputy calling on him to "reflect" on his position. Starmer, who has repeatedly said he would fight to keep his job, has so far been unable to stem the tide of calls for him to set a timetable for his departure after his Labour Party suffered some of its worst losses in local elections last week. While the number of call...

May 12, 2026 3:12 PM

UK’s Starmer defies calls to quit, says he is getting on with governing

Prime Minister Keir Starmer defied calls to resign on Tuesday, telling ministers he would "get on with governing" despite a "destabilising" 48 hours of growing calls to set out a timetable for his departure after an election drubbing. At a meeting of his cabinet team of ministers, Starmer, in the top job for less than two years, repeated that while he took responsibility for one of his Labour Party's worst election defeats, there had been no official move to trigger a leadership contest. "The ...

January 5, 2026 10:54 AM

Britain’s Starmer says leadership change would ‘not be in national interest’

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday he would still be in power this time next year, in the face of low poll numbers and speculation about a possible leadership challenge. Starmer told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg it was not in the national interest to "chop and change" the country's leader as had happened under the previous Conservative government. His Labour Party is trailing the populists Reform UK in opinion polls 18 months after winning a landslide victory in the 2024 national...