Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Keir Starmer following leaked rumours suggesting he is considering proroguing Parliament. The move, if carried out, is being described by political commentators and opposition figures as a “cowardly” attempt to avoid intense questioning over the Peter Mandelson appointment scandal.

Avoiding Parliamentary Scrutiny?

According to reports from GB News, the crisis surrounding the position of the UK Ambassador to the United States is expected to escalate further next week, particularly as former Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney is due to give evidence before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday. This is widely anticipated to trigger a disastrous Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session on Wednesday.

However, sources suggest that Starmer may use the upcoming local elections as justification to prorogue Parliament. Commentators at GB News have strongly criticised the alleged plan, calling the Prime Minister a “fugitive” and pointing out the apparent contradiction with his past stance, when he had sharply condemned the suspension of Parliament during national crises.

Critics argue that prorogation would leave urgent national issues—such as inflation, unemployment, and the immigration crisis—unaddressed, while the government focuses instead on “protecting the Prime Minister’s position.”

A Leadership Under Strain

Tensions within the Labour Party are becoming increasingly visible. MP Jonathan Brash has publicly expressed frustration with what he called the “Westminster psychodrama,” hinting that Starmer’s departure is now only a matter of “when, not if.”

Reports also suggest that dissatisfaction is not limited to backbench MPs. A leaked claim indicates that an unnamed Cabinet minister has privately lost confidence in the Prime Minister and expects a potential internal move against him. Even senior and usually vocal figures such as Ed Miliband and Pat McFadden are reportedly distancing themselves, avoiding defending Starmer on television.

One political commentator assessed the situation bluntly: “People think a Prime Minister falls because of scandals, but in reality, the end comes when his own ministers turn against him. This government is now clearly in its final hours or days.”

Despite being described by critics as stubborn and lacking awareness of his declining authority, Keir Starmer’s political future now appears to rest in the hands of his own Cabinet. Whether his ministers have the courage to force a leadership change will be decisive for the fate of the Labour government in the coming days.