Starmer resigns as UK prime minister after Labour revolt
Keir Starmer steps down after less than two years in office, with a leadership contest set to begin in July.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, ending a tenure of less than two years marked by policy reversals, mounting scandals, and deep public disapproval.
Speaking in an emotional address outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer said he would step down as leader of the Labour Party, stating that every decision he had taken was guided by his commitment to the country. He confirmed that a leadership contest would be launched in July and pledged to remain in office until a successor is in place before parliament returns from the summer recess 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,” he said.
The resignation followed months of turmoil, with members of his own party criticising his leadership and arguing he had failed to deliver the rapid change voters expected after 14 years of Conservative rule. Labour lost more than 1,000 seats in local council elections in May, results widely interpreted as a public rejection of the party’s performance under his leadership.
Until the weekend, Starmer had resisted calls to step down, insisting he intended to fight on. Over 95 Labour MPs had called on him to resign or set out a timetable for his departure, while one cabinet minister and several junior ministers also resigned.
His departure paves the way for Andy Burnham, the long-time mayor of Manchester, who won a parliamentary seat last week in order to mount a leadership challenge. Burnham was due to be sworn in as a member of parliament on Monday, clearing his path to contest the party leadership.
With Starmer’s exit, Britain is set to have its seventh prime minister in a decade. His announcement comes a day before the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum, which triggered the country’s departure from the European Union and an extraordinary turnover of prime ministerial leadership.
Despite his political fall, Starmer has been credited with rebuilding Labour into an election-winning force, delivering a decisive victory in the 2024 general election that ended 14 years of Conservative government.
