Keir Starmer has one desperate card left to play as voters rebel – it will ruin Britain

Keir Starmer is under huge pressure after the latest elections. His party, Labour, was badly beaten by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. It wasn’t just a small loss  it was a serious blow that left many people wondering if Labour has lost its way. Some even think this could be the beginning of the end for the two-party system that has ruled the UK for decades. Both Labour and the Conservatives have disappointed people, and voters are clearly looking for something new.

Starmer has never been seen as a natural leader or someone with strong political instincts. Even he has admitted that politics doesn’t come easily to him. But now, after the recent election results, he’s getting hit hard — both in public opinion and within his own party. Rumors are spreading in Westminster that he might not even want to run in the next general election. Some say he’s tired, and others believe he’s simply lost the drive to keep fighting.

What’s more surprising is who might replace him if he steps down — Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. He’s not very popular with the public and is often seen as being out of touch with what regular people are going through. That’s left many in the party worried about the future.

Still, even though Starmer is facing anger and doubts, he does have one last move he could make. But it’s risky, and many people hope he won’t go through with it.

When Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves took charge, the UK economy was already in bad shape. But instead of turning things around, their decisions made the situation worse. One of Reeves’s most controversial moves was to take away the Winter Fuel Payment from around 10 million pensioners. It only saved the government about £1.5 billion, but the public backlash was huge. Many saw it as an attack on older, vulnerable people, and Reeves’s reputation took a major hit.

Labour also scared people by suggesting they might raise taxes in the autumn budget. That made businesses nervous, caused investment to slow down, and hurt economic growth. Reeves then introduced a £25 billion tax increase on businesses by raising national insurance contributions. That move added extra pressure on companies that were already struggling and led to more job losses across the country.

At this point, Reeves seems to have realized she can’t keep raising taxes. Taxes are already the highest they’ve been in 70 years. She also tried to cut spending by reducing disability benefits, but that sparked another wave of public anger. The cuts saved only £3.5 billion, but the damage to public trust was far greater. It’s clear now that cutting support or raising taxes any further isn’t a good option.

And now, a bigger storm may be on the way. If U.S. President Donald Trump starts a trade war, the UK economy could suffer even more. With all these challenges building up, Starmer might feel like he has no choice but to try something extreme — borrowing a lot more money.

However, Reeves has created strict rules for how the government handles money. These rules say that national debt must start to fall within five years, and that all normal government spending must be paid for through taxes. These rules were meant to show that Labour is serious about managing the economy responsibly and won’t repeat past mistakes, like the ones made during Liz Truss’s time as Prime Minister.

But now those same rules are limiting what Starmer can do. Labour can’t raise taxes. They can’t make big cuts without angering voters. So the only option left is borrowing.

A lot of Labour members — especially those on the left — would be happy to borrow more money. Some economists also support the idea and say it’s possible. But many others think that’s just wishful thinking.

The truth is, the UK already borrowed a huge amount last year — £151 billion. The government is spending more than it earns every year, and the country’s total debt is now equal to the size of the entire UK economy. That’s a dangerous place to be. Borrowing even more would be very risky and could make things worse in the long run.

That hasn’t stopped the Conservatives in the past — they borrowed heavily for 14 years. Starmer might feel tempted to do the same, thinking it will give him more time and breathing room. But if he gives in to that temptation, the UK could end up in a serious financial crisis. He’s in a tough spot, and whatever move he makes next could change the country’s future — for better or for worse.