Sir Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as UK Prime Minister in an emotional speech outside No 10.
Staff gathered and several ministers were present as a lectern was placed on Downing Street ahead of his statement on Monday morning (local time).
Starmer started by saying he inherited a Labour Party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt”.
“I was told time and time again that my party was finished. That we were consigned to history. That a majority at the general election – let alone a landslide majority – was impossible,” he told the crowd.
“But we proved those people wrong. Because we changed our party.”
Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory at the 2024 general election, but a string of scandals and more than a dozen major about-turns have seen his authority and popularity drain away.
More than 100 Labour MPs had called for him to quit after last month’s historic defeat at the local elections and Burnham’s resounding victory at last week’s Makerfield by-election.
Starmer continued by saying Labour had asked whether he was the best person to lead into the next election.
“I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party loud and clear and I accept that answer with good grace.”
Starmer said he had informed King Charles of his decision to resign, and he would give his successor his full support.
“I will ask the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party with nominations opening on July 9 and completed by the summer recess.
“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.”
He ended his speech sounding close to tears as he thanked staff, the civil service, friends and colleagues for their support.
“And 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.”
Starmer spent the weekend considering the “political realities” of his situation with his family at Chequers.
The Prime Minister and former mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham are said to favour a delayed transition of power over the summer, allowing an orderly handover of the keys to No 10.
The incoming MP for Makerfield will be sworn in this afternoon.
For thousands of people, the day is a cause for celebration as they gather to mark the summer solstice and about 16 hours of daylight.
But Starmer will have felt every second of the longest day of the year as he spent it holed up at Chequers, the prime ministerial country retreat, weighing up his future.
Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith was asked by Times Radio whether it was her understanding that Starmer was about to announce his plan to step aside.
Smith responded: “Listen, my understanding from those I’ve spoken to who are close to the Prime Minister yesterday is that the Prime Minister has spent the weekend thinking really carefully about the future of the country, about what’s the best thing to do for the British people ...
“He always thinks carefully about the future of this country and the interests of the British people. He puts them, by the way, ahead of the interests of the party.
“And he will make his own decisions in light of what everyone can see is a considerable amount of pressure and turbulence.”
Speculation that Starmer was on the brink of resigning came as veteran politician Burnham was due to take up his seat in Parliament, days after clinching victory in a crunch by-election and clearing the path for an anticipated leadership challenge.
Under Labour’s rules, the leader of the centre-left party must be a member of Parliament.
Starmer’s resignation means Britain will get its seventh Prime Minister in a decade – an unprecedented rate of churn in its modern history.
The 63-year-old ex-lawyer had insisted he would fight any attempt to oust him but the emphatic nature of Burnham’s victory in last week’s northwest Makerfield constituency vote appears to have prompted a weekend rethink.
Even US President Donald Trump was predicting Starmer’s imminent departure from Downing Street, writing on Sunday on his Truth Social platform: “Keir Starmer will resign”.
The American leader, who initially enjoyed a good rapport with Starmer before the Iran war ruptured the relationship, said Starmer had failed on immigration and energy policies.
Burnham – Greater Manchester mayor since 2017 – has made clear he intends to bid to lead slumping Labour, warning in his by–election victory speech the ruling party had a “final chance to change”.
- Daily Telegraph UK, additional reporting AFP
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