As a tearful Keir Starmer offered his resignation as Prime Minister on Monday 22 June 2026, he became the sixth consecutive person in the role to resign before completing a whole term. The British public now faces the prospect of a seventh Prime Minister in a decade, an unprecedented number in modern British politics. And while most of the discourse surrounds Starmer’s potential successor, Andy Burnham, there is potential for major consequences in Scottish politics.
The Westminster/Holyrood divide
For many supporters of independence, the frustration with Westminster throughout the country, driven by its inability to maintain stable leadership, is a confirmation of their long-standing belief that political power centred in London is far removed from Scottish interests and priorities.
Burnham’s success in the by-election in Makerfield, over 200 miles away from Edinburgh, seemed to be the deciding factor in Starmer’s resignation as the leader of Westminster’s largest party, which is different to Holyrood’s. This should act as a reminder to Scotland how often it is disregarded by the institution and how significantly its politics is affected by events and decisions made elsewhere in the UK.
There has also been heightened rhetoric around the potential for the instability of Westminster to infect the workings of Holyrood. The continuous selection of seemingly incompetent leaders,largely by the other member states of the UK, will hinder Scotland’s ability to pursue long-term goals and development. Supporting the union between England and Scotland due to its perception as politically and economically beneficial is becoming unviable.
Reactions of politicians
Pro-independence politicians have used this event not only to condemn Starmer as an unfit leader, but also to revitalise the argument for Scottish independence. Calls for self-government have come from within Westminster and Holyrood, with John Swinney, leader of the SNP, and Gillian Mackay, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, issuing statements.
Swinney urged that ”a fresh start is possible but only with independence” and suggested that the political divisions and internal conflicts within Westminster prevent real change for Scottish people. Mackay highlighted concerns about the country being bound to the workings and decisions of a party it did not elect, arguing that ”our country deserves better than being trapped in Labour’s forces while we face the real threat of Nigel Farage in Downing Street”.
Scottish Labour
There is also a significant risk that the instability rampant in the Labour party will affect politics in Scotland as well as the perception of Scottish Labour. The party, which already has considerably fewer MSPs than the SNP, faces potential damage to their reputation and internal unrest following Starmer’s resignation.
For example, the conduct and positions of Scottish Labour politicians have differed significantly. The MP for Inverclyde, Martin McCluskey, who had previously called for the Prime Minister to remain in the role, appears now to be politically isolated and in the minority of his party. The leader of Scottish Labour, Anas Sarwar, also seemed conflicted between his commitments to Scotland and those to Westminster after previously supporting the coup against the leader of his party, but issuing a statement celebrating his time in office.
Because of this, further issues can be raised regarding the competing interests faced by Scottish Labour,having to choose between representing its country and maintaining its alignment with the wider Labour party. This appears to be an increasingly prevalent source of tension.
The Reform threat
The collapse of each British government is bringing the possibility of a Reform government closer to reality due to their increasing levels of support throughout the country. However, their performance in the May 2026 Holyrood elections was underwhelming, with Malcolm Offord, leader of Reform UK Scotland, also failing to secure a constituency seat and getting one only on the list. This suggests a reluctance among Scottish voters to mirror that party’s successes elsewhere and again highlights the schism between British and Scottish politics. It also displays the extent to which Scotland is currently vulnerable to the events in Westminster and the professional ambitions of Nigel Farage.
With the division between British and Scottish politics becoming increasingly apparent, the question is this: how many resignations will Westminster face before Scotland gains independence?
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