Political instability reflects governance issues: Experts

The resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday marks yet another chapter in a decade of political instability, which experts say reflects deep-seated governance issues rather than mere political misfortune.

Britain's frequent leadership changes are the result of severe economic and social problems that have been left unresolved, experts noted. The core question the United Kingdom faces is whether its political parties can break the cycle of instability through meaningful reform to boost economic development.

Starmer announced on Monday that he would resign as leader of the governing Labour Party and leave office once a successor is chosen.

Starmer's departure means his successor will become the seventh prime minister to move into No 10 Downing Street in roughly a decade since the 2016 Brexit referendum, highlighting the instability at the top of British politics.

Zhao Yongsheng, a professor at the Institute of Regional and International Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, described the political turbulence as aftershocks of the "Brexit earthquake".

"Brexit has turned the UK into an isolated island for finance, trade, and talent," Zhao said. He noted that corporate headquarters and financial institutions that once thrived on the EU's borderless market have relocated. Cross-border operations, from budget airlines to student exchanges, have become bogged down by the need for separate bilateral agreements, leading to business contraction or relocation. "These factors have exacerbated Britain's economic challenges, triggered a cascade of social problems, and ultimately destabilized its political landscape," he added.

The economic toll is stark. A November study by the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research, a private research organization, found that by the end of 2025, the Brexit process had reduced the UK's GDP by 6 to 8 percent, investment by 12 to 13 percent, and employment by 3 to 4 percent, with effects accumulating over time.

While Brexit is a critical turning point, Cui Hongjian, a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University's Academy of Regional and Global Governance, noted that the core problem lies in the UK's internal structural dysfunction.

Britain's major political parties often prioritize party interests over public and national interests, Cui said. "Resigning and changing leaders to prolong a party's hold on power has become a political norm. This practice essentially shelves problems rather than solving them, creating a vicious cycle."

Rise of 'outsiders'

The recent local and regional elections held in May offered a telling snapshot of the shifting political landscape. Both the ruling Labour Party and the main opposition Conservatives suffered heavy losses, shedding hundreds of council seats. In their place, the insurgent, right-wing Reform UK — founded only a few years ago — made significant gains, alongside the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

Cui sees this as a clear signal of a changing political ecology. "Voters are using their ballots for non-mainstream parties to force the mainstream to undertake genuine reform," he said.

He outlined two potential paths for Britain's future. The first is that mainstream parties genuinely reform, shifting their focus from partisan and personal interests to the interests of the nation and society. The second is a continuation of the status quo. "If they refuse to reform and continue the old cycle of resignation and internal attrition, the rising antiestablishment forces will gradually seize the initiative in determining the future of British politics."

Professor Zhao emphasized that political stability ultimately hinges on economic revival, adding that properly handling economic cooperation with the European Union is crucial for the British economy. "From an economic perspective, the UK, as an export-oriented, service-driven economy, actually needs the EU's unified market to achieve better development," he said.

He also noted that the competitive dynamics of the technology sector could prompt the UK to reassess its relationship with the EU. As global economies race to dominate frontier sectors like artificial intelligence, Zhao warned that the UK's current economic scale puts it at a disadvantage. "Any British prime minister would be facing an uphill battle with inadequate resources," he said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.