Frequent Changes in the UK Prime Minister from 2016 to 2022: The Political Economy Perspective

Shuyi Wang

2025

Abstract

Since 2016, the turnover rate of the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister has reached a high level compared with recent years, with five leaders assuming office in just seven years. This paper analyzes this political instability through a political economy lens, arguing that the interplay between economic shocks and institutional vulnerabilities has created a self-reinforcing cycle of leadership turnover. Three key dynamics are being identified. First, successive economic crises have systematically weakened governing authority; second, the UK's political system lacks robust safeguards against rapid leadership removal; and third, policy missteps in responding to these crises have accelerated political fallout. Through case studies of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss's premierships, how economic pressures translate into leadership vulnerabilities in the UK's unique constitutional context is demonstrated. Furthermore, this paper also compares the UK with Germany, whose leadership stability is worthy of being mentioned and praised under the current volatile international situation, contrasting the differences from a political, economic, and social point of view between the UK and Germany. This paper contributes to understanding the relationship between economic governance and political stability in advanced democracies facing multiple crises.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Wang S. (2025). Frequent Changes in the UK Prime Minister from 2016 to 2022: The Political Economy Perspective. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Politics, Law, and Social Science - Volume 1: ICPLSS; ISBN 978-989-758-785-6, SciTePress, pages 88-95. DOI: 10.5220/0014294200004859

in Bibtex Style

@conference{icplss25,
author={Shuyi Wang},
title={Frequent Changes in the UK Prime Minister from 2016 to 2022: The Political Economy Perspective},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Politics, Law, and Social Science - Volume 1: ICPLSS},
year={2025},
pages={88-95},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0014294200004859},
isbn={978-989-758-785-6},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Politics, Law, and Social Science - Volume 1: ICPLSS
TI - Frequent Changes in the UK Prime Minister from 2016 to 2022: The Political Economy Perspective
SN - 978-989-758-785-6
AU - Wang S.
PY - 2025
SP - 88
EP - 95
DO - 10.5220/0014294200004859
PB - SciTePress