Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for an immediate general election on Monday, June 22, 2026, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation [1].

The sudden departure of the prime minister creates a significant political vacuum in Westminster. Farage is leveraging this instability to argue that the current government lacks the mandate to lead the country through its ongoing crises.

Farage said the UK could not "afford to waste another week drifting from crisis to crisis" [2]. He said that a fresh mandate via a general election is the only way to resolve the current political deadlock. This call for a vote comes as the country prepares for a transition of power that would result in Britain having its seventh prime minister in a decade [3].

While Farage is pushing for a full national vote, the legal necessity of such a move remains a point of contention. Under UK law, a general election is not required simply because a prime minister resigns mid-term [4]. Typically, the governing party selects a new leader to take over the premiership without triggering a nationwide poll.

Farage said the potential succession process was flawed. He specifically mentioned the possibility of a new appointment, saying, "If the next prime minister is the new MP for Makerfield" [2].

The resignation of Keir Starmer marks a volatile period for the British government. The speed of leadership turnover in recent years has raised concerns about long-term policy stability, and the effectiveness of the parliamentary system in providing consistent governance [3].

“The UK could not "afford to waste another week drifting from crisis to crisis".”

The call for an election by Reform UK highlights the growing tension between constitutional norms and political opportunism. While UK law allows a party to replace its leader internally, the rapid succession of seven prime ministers in 10 years suggests a systemic instability that Farage intends to exploit to increase his party's influence.