Britain’s six prime ministers since 2016 – ranked!

The UK has had six prime ministers in the last 10 years – with a seventh likely to be in place by as early as mid-July. John Crace ranks those who have been booted out of Downing Street between 2016 and 2026. Worst of all is … 6. David Cameron David Cameron. Photograph: WPA/Getty If you’re looking for villains, the architect of much of the political chaos of the last 10 years, then David Cameron is your man. On the surface he had many of the characteristics a prime minister needs – he knew how to make a speech and was a good performer in the Commons – but he also had fatal flaws. Mostly his entitlement and carelessness. Even now he is either oblivious or indifferent to the damage he has done and would be astonished to find himself heading this list. It was his programme of austerity that lit the touchstone for communities feeling left behind, that government was no longer working for them. Then came the referendum. Promised as a means of resolving an internal problem in the Conservatives – membership of the EU barely registered as a national grievance in 2014 – so that Cameron, spooked by the rise of Ukip, could go into the 2015 general election with his party more or less united. To his and everyone else’s surprise he won an outright victory and was obliged to deliver on his promise. Even then, there was plenty of time to mitigate the damage. Dave had said the referendum would be held by the end of 2017. …