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Relevance: GS-II (Comparing UK & Indian Democracies) Source: BBC / UK Parliament, June 2026

1 · The Story So Far

On June 22, 2026, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer suddenly resigned. Why? A chain of massive setbacks: a brutal loss in local elections, the end of a 100-year Labour winning streak in Wales, key ministers quitting in protest, and a damaging political scandal.

The favorite to take his place is Andy Burnham. Interestingly, to even qualify for the job, Burnham had to quickly win a local parliament seat just days earlier. The most fascinating takeaway? No British PM has managed to complete a full five-year term since 2016.

2 · How to Change a PM Mid-Term

In the UK, the Prime Minister is the “Primus Inter Pares” (Latin for “First Among Equals”). The public doesn’t directly elect the PM. They simply vote for a political party. The leader of the winning party becomes the PM. So, if the party decides to change its leader halfway through the term, the country gets a new Prime Minister—no national election required!

The Golden Rule
Support is Everything
A PM’s power comes entirely from the trust of their party’s MPs. If the MPs lose faith, the PM loses the office. Regular MPs (backbenchers) can openly demand a new leader.
Step 1 — The Party Vote
Finding a New Leader
To challenge for leadership in the Labour Party, a candidate needs support from 20% of Labour MPs. Then, party members nationwide vote to pick the final winner.
Step 2 — At the Palace
The Royal Handover
The outgoing PM visits Buckingham Palace to formally resign to the King. The King then invites the newly chosen party leader and asks them to form a government.
The India Contrast
Why Not Here?
In India, our Anti-Defection Law (10th Schedule) stops MPs from revolting against their party leader. If they try, they lose their parliament seat!

  • Why Burnham needed a rapid election: You must be an MP to be the UK Prime Minister. As a Mayor, Burnham wasn’t an MP. A loyal ally resigned their seat so Burnham could run and win it, just to be eligible.
  • Tradition vs. Rulebook: The UK doesn’t have a single written constitution. It relies on centuries of traditions and party rules. The King’s role is purely ceremonial.
  • India’s Rulebook: We have a written rule for everything. Under Article 75, the President appoints the PM. To remove a PM, the opposition must win a formal No-Confidence Motion in the Lok Sabha.
  • Is the UK system broken? Since 2016, the UK has had six PMs. While it looks chaotic, experts argue this is actually the system’s strength. It allows the country to quickly remove a failing leader without the huge cost of a nationwide election.

UPSC Revision Box
Primus Inter Pares “First Among Equals.” The PM is the captain of the team, not a separate absolute ruler.
Westminster System The UK-style parliamentary democracy that India, Canada, and Australia also use.
Backbenchers Regular MPs who don’t hold minister titles. They sit in the back rows and have huge power to start party revolts.
Alternative Vote (AV) A ranking system for voting. If no one gets 50%, the lowest candidate is dropped and votes move to second choices.
Article 75 (India) States that the President appoints the PM, but the government must answer to the Lok Sabha.
10th Schedule (India) The Anti-Defection Law (added in 1985). Disqualifies MPs who vote against their own party’s orders.
Rule 198 (Lok Sabha) The official rule used to move a “No-Confidence Motion” against the Indian government.

Test Your Knowledge
Q. With reference to the parliamentary systems of the UK and India, consider the following statements:

  1. To trigger a leadership challenge in the UK Labour Party, a candidate must be backed by at least 20% of Labour MPs.
  2. In India, the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) was added to the Constitution by the 42nd Amendment Act.
  3. Under Article 75 of the Indian Constitution, the Council of Ministers holds office during the pleasure of the President.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 1 and 3 only    (c) 2 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only

  • Statement 1 — Correct: The UK Labour Party rules require a challenger to have the backing of 20% of their MPs to ensure only serious candidates run.
  • Statement 2 — Incorrect: Watch out for this classic trap! The Anti-Defection Law (10th Schedule) was added by the 52nd Amendment Act in 1985, not the 42nd Amendment (which is known as the Mini-Constitution of 1976).
  • Statement 3 — Correct: Article 75 explicitly says ministers hold office “during the pleasure of the President,” though in reality, they must maintain the confidence of the Lok Sabha.
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