Starmer announces resignation, making way for UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade

Keir Starmer announced his intention to step down as Britain’s prime minister on Monday, succumbing to intense party pressure as his popularity plummeted and rivals manoeuvred to challenge him. “Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party,” an emotional Starmer said in a short speech outside 10 Downing Street in London. Starmer, who up until Monday had resisted calls to stand aside, said he would remain caretaker prime minister until a new Labour leader was chosen in the next few weeks. It was anticipated that there would be a new prime minister in place by September and Starmer offered his successor his “full and unequivocal support”. His likely successor, Andy Burnham, was due to be sworn in as an MP after winning a pivotal vote last Friday. Within hours of Starmer’s announcement, Burnham confirmed he would seek the leadership, calling for an “orderly and responsible” transition. “I will put myself forward as part of this process,” Burnham wrote on X. For months, political buzz has been building around 56-year-old Burnham, a former minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Burnham is widely known across the UK as the “King of the North” and until recently served as the mayor of Greater Manchester for nine years. The party’s leader must be a member of Parliament. Burnham’s return to Parliament was made possible by a key by-election last week in Makerfield as his national prominence has risen. Wes Streeting, who resigned as UK health secretary last month and emerged as a contender, backed Burnham for leader in a letter posted on X. Starmer, who led the Labour Party to a landslide victory in July 2024 to end 14 years of Conservative rule, became the sixth British prime minister in a decade to exit before serving a full parliamentary term. Those Conservative predecessors are David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. Truss famously lasted a disastrous 44 days in office and was forced to resign. Starmer started his term with the promise of a fresh start for the United Kingdom after a rocky Conservative era that seemed to progressively worsen following the June 2016 Brexit vote and the end of the Cameron era. However, Starmer’s popularity and that of his party have sunk in just two years. Starmer’s standing has taken repeated hits over several hot-button issues and scandals during recent months. The scandal that was particularly difficult to shake, and perhaps the most damaging, was the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States. The embattled prime minister had struggled to distance himself from Mandelson’s known associations with Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer sacked Mandelson in September last year, and has asserted he did not know the full extent of Mandelson’s ties to the late US sex offender. Amid a relentless stream of negative headlines, murmurings about the 63-year-old Starmer’s leadership from within his own government had grown increasingly vocal in recent months as ministers resigned. In May, the UK leader’s demise was made worse by poor results for his party in local and regional elections. Meanwhile, the rise of Reform UK has come into play as Nigel Farage’s anti-immigrant populist party eyes greater prominence ahead of the next UK general election by 2029. Starmer’s pressures have not been helped by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly berated his British ally over the UK’s refusal to join the war against Iran, straining what initially seemed to be a warm relationship on the surface. On Sunday, Trump fuelled speculation of an impending resignation by posting on Truth Social that Starmer had “failed badly” on immigration and energy. Trump concluded his parting note with: “I wish him well!” There was a very different reaction in Europe, where Starmer has made attempts to strengthen ties after Brexit. “It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X. “European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir.” Starmer was elected to Parliament in 2015 and took over the leadership of the Labour Party in 2020, succeeding Jeremy Corbyn. His formal title is Sir Keir Starmer, having been knighted in 2014 for his services to law and criminal justice before frontline politics. As he wrapped up his speech on Monday, Starmer turned his attention to his family and the future. “When I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend more time on the most important job, being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad, and being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and my joy,” he said.

Starmer announces resignation, making way for UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Andy Burnham confirms plans to succeed Keir Starmer as the British leader yields to the reality of his sinking popularity

Andy Burnham confirms plans to succeed Keir Starmer as the British leader yields to the reality of his sinking popularity