London: Keir Starmer on Monday, June 22, announced his resignation as British Prime Minister and the Leader of the Labour Party, setting out a timetable for his successor to be elected in the coming weeks and be in place by September.
The 63-year-old said he will remain in post until a new leader and PM is elected by the governing party and pledged his “full and unequivocal support” to the next incumbent to “ensure an orderly handover of power.”
Starmer made the announcement after facing growing pressure to hand over to a new leader who can try and revive the government’s flagging fortunes
Likely successor to be Andy Burnham
His departure was triggered by Andy Burnham’s victory in a crucial by-election last week. The popular ex-mayor of Greater Manchester, who returns to the House of Commons after the election win, is seen as the frontrunner in the race to replace Starmer at 10 Downing Street.
“I will put myself forward as part of this process,” he said in a social media post.
“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” said an emotional Starmer, in his address from the steps of Downing Street.
“I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question and I accept that answer with good grace. 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,” he said.
Starmer said he had spoken to King Charles III on Monday morning to inform him of the decision.
He will now ask the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party to set out the timetable for selecting his successor, with nominations opening on July 9 and the process to be completed by the summer recess of Parliament, scheduled for July 17.
Successor will inherit a far stronger and fairer Britain, says Starmer
The NEC will set out the process to elect a new leader, though there is growing speculation that the overwhelming backing already notched up by Burnham could see him elected unopposed and in post at Downing Street by mid-July.
“In the case of a contest, this will ensure a new leader is in place before Parliament returns in September. I will remain in post as Prime Minister until the contest is complete, and I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power,” said Starmer.
“I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago, better prepared for the challenges ahead, and better able to ensure the Labour Party secures a second term in office,” he said.
Starmer led the Labour Party to a landslide victory in a general election in July 2024 and after an initial phase of popularity, saw his ratings as PM plummet in recent months over some controversial decisions.
‘Will spend more time being the best husband, father’
“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,” said Starmer, choking back tears.
He began his address by setting out what he saw as the Labour government’s achievements in the past two years after taking over from the Conservative Party with a strong mandate for change.
“Look at what we have achieved in just two years, an economy that is stronger, growing faster than our peers, wages rising faster than inflation in every single month since we came to power, investment secured, infrastructure being built… change promised by a Labour government, change fought for by a Labour government, change delivered by a Labour government,” he stated.
On his own achievements, Starmer pointed out that he inherited a party that was “politically, financially, and morally bankrupt” six years ago and went on to prove his doubters wrong by winning an emphatic majority of 174 in the last general election.
UK on hunt for its seventh PM in 10 years
Potential leadership challengers, also expected to include former health secretary Wes Streeting, would need support from at least 20 per cent of the party’s MPs. They must also have the backing of either 5 per cent of the constituency Labour parties, or at least three affiliated Labour Party organisations or trade unions.
Starmer’s resignation means the UK is now on the hunt for its seventh prime minister in 10 years, following rapid leadership changes during the previous Tory government.
The biggest damage to Starmer’s premiership was the appointment of former Labour Party grandee Peter Mandelson as United States ambassador despite his known links with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson’s eventual sacking, coupled with some unpopular domestic decisions on welfare reforms and U-turns around taxes and social benefits, made his position untenable with most of his Cabinet advising him to step aside for a change in leadership direction.
Starmer was the UK PM who got India FTA over the line
Starmer, who was a human rights barrister before being elected as Britain’s Prime Minister, had pledged to get the much-anticipated Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India over the line.
Days before his resignation announcement, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, where both leaders set July 15 as the date for the FTA to come into force.
Now, around the same time as the implementation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – expected to significantly boost the 48 billion pounds bilateral trading relationship – the UK is expected to have a new leader in his place.
“It’s not just a piece of paper, it’s a launchpad for growth. With India set to be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028, and trade with them about to become quicker and cheaper, the opportunities waiting to be seized are unparalleled,” Starmer said, during his visit to Mumbai last October.
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