Emotional Starmer steps down less than two years after landslide win

London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced he will resign as Labour leader so the party can choose his replacement by September, setting off dramatic moves to install his main challenger, Andy Burnham, as the country’s seventh leader in just over a decade.

Less than two years after he won a landslide election victory that promised to end chaos in British politics, Starmer admitted his party wanted him to go and said nominations for his successor would open in about two weeks, without naming Burnham as his most likely replacement.

Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, moved within hours to confirm he would run. Minutes afterwards, senior leadership contender Wes Streeting, a former health secretary, took himself out of the race and threw his support behind the clear front-runner.

The lightning moves position Burnham as the likely prime minister because no other challenger has stepped forward, and any contender would have to gain the support of at least 81 Labour MPs to force a contest.

Burnham, a health minister in Westminster before he left parliament almost a decade ago, is due to be sworn in as an MP again on Monday after winning a byelection for the northern seat of Makerfield last week.

Starmer’s decision to resign comes after at least a year of discontent within the Labour Party over his performance and months of rumour about potential challengers, leading the prime minister to set out a timetable that keeps him in power while the party prepares for a new leader.

With many Labour MPs throwing their support behind Burnham, Starmer faced a decision on whether to contest a leadership ballot or announce his departure. After mulling his political future at his country retreat, Chequers, over the weekend, he ultimately announced his resignation on Monday morning (London time) in front of dozens of television cameras in Downing Street.

“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace,” an emotional Starmer said.

“Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first.

“That is why I will resign as the leader of the Labour Party. ”

Starmer said he had informed King Charles of his decision and would do everything he could to ensure an orderly handover of power, adding he would give his successor his “full and unequivocal support”.

The timetable means the Labour Party executive committee will open nominations for the leadership on July 9 and give people until July 16 to step forward. This would allow for a new leader to be in place when parliament returns from its summer break on September 1 and in time for Labour’s annual conference in the week beginning September 28.

If another contender emerges, however, the choice of leader will be made by thousands of Labour members in a ballot that would take weeks, potentially challenging that timetable.

Starmer’s announcement came as no surprise on Monday in London, given there were days of mounting speculation about his departure and reports on Sunday night that he would go.

His government suffered backbench revolts over welfare and spending policies, a tax scandal claimed deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, and Starmer’s judgment was called into question over his appointment of Peter Mandelson, a friend of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain’s ambassador to the US.

Last month, Labour lost hundreds of council positions in local government elections, triggering grave doubts about the party’s fortunes.

The threat to Starmer increased sharply on Friday when Burnham decisively beat a candidate from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which has led national opinion polls, in the Makerfield race.

Burnham is yet to outline a full policy agenda, but confirmed he would stand for leader in the party process and promised to act on challenges including growth.

“I will put myself forward as part of this process. The country expects stability, seriousness and a continued focus on the issues that matter most, and that is what it will get,” he said.

“People want to see progress on economic growth, cost of living, public services, housing and opportunities for the next generation.”

Streeting called for a new plan from Labour to ensure Britain could grow again with what he called a “progressive capitalism” that focused on wealth creation as much as wealth distribution. He also called for a stronger fight against “nationalist” opponents, more work on energy security and greater ties with Europe.

“Having spoken at length with Andy in recent days, I’m convinced that there is a place for these ideas under his leadership,” he said.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who wants to cut migration and slash welfare spending, has called for an election so the British people can have their say about who replaces Starmer.

“Britain is broken. We need an election,” he declared in a new essay timed for the crisis within Labour. He added on social media: “I’ve had enough of waiting around. Britain needs change – real change, not another washed-up has-been shoved into place by the uniparty.”

Reform held a lead against others in a national survey by YouGov last week, with 24 per cent of the vote compared to Labour on 19 per cent and the Conservative Party on 19 per cent. But its candidate lost heavily to Burnham in the Makerfield byelection, in a key outcome that helped position Burnham as the best choice for Labour to defeat its conservative opponents.

US President Donald Trump had fuelled talk of Starmer’s imminent resignation by declaring it would happen a day before the actual announcement, in what was seen as a breach of the usual protocols between two longstanding allies.

“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“He failed badly on two very important subjects – IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT.”

While Starmer has often been criticised in the media for his flat speaking style, he was emotional when he finished his remarks in Downing Street.

He thanked his wife, Victoria, and said he would focus on looking after his family.

“Being the best husband I can, to my fantastic wife Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad,” he said of his future.

“And being the best dad that I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and joy.”

Victoria Starmer, looking downcast and emotional, walked over to her husband and they hugged before stepping back into Number 10.

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