LONDON — Keir Starmer announced his departure as British prime minister Monday, bowing to pressure after a key rival resoundingly won a by-election that would let him challenge for the top job.
In a tearful statement outside No.10 Downing Street, Starmer said he had informed King Charles III of his decision to quit — and pulled the pin on a Labour leadership contest could either run until September, or be sewn up rapidly.
“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” Starmer said, after reeling off his achievements as opposition leader and then in office.
“I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace. Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour party.”
The move comes after Labour’s Andy Burnham decisively beat Reform UK in the Makerfield by-election, making him eligible to challenge Starmer for the leadership of the governing Labour Party. The scale of Burnham’s win has helped tip more Labour MPs into his camp.
Timeline
Starmer said Monday he had asked Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee to launch a leadership contest, with nominations open until July 9 and the race over by the summer parliamentary recess. Focus will now turn to whether Burnham’s expected rival, former government minister Wes Streeting, steps aside to allow a Burnham coronation.
The aim is to have a new Labour leader in place by September — and Starmer said he will “remain in place until the contest is complete” and “ensure an orderly handover of power.”
But that timeline could be significantly compressed if Burnham goes unchallenged. Some in Burnham’s camp have been pushing for a managed transition that culminates in September, giving their man more time to prepare.
Since coming to office with a commanding House of Commons majority in 2024, Starmer’s Labour government has repeatedly struggled to gain momentum.
It suffered huge losses to Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK in local elections, has been hit my multiple scandals, and Starmer has U-turned on a series of key policies in the face of pressure from his own ranks.
It’s a far cry from Starmer’s record in opposition. He took the reins of the Labour Party after its worst-ever general election defeat under leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn, and ended 14 years out of government by leaping forward to eclipse the Conservatives in a single parliamentary term.
Talking up his record, the outgoing prime minister said he had inherited a Labour Party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt.”
“We changed our party, ripping out the poison of anti-Semitism, restoring trust on the economy, defense and national security, and becoming a party that once again stood proudly with, not against, our national flag,” he said.
Britain now has an “economy that is stronger, growing faster than our peers” and “wages rising faster than inflation,” he added.
His voice cracking with emotion, Starmer told the crowd he was leaving “the biggest job in the country” to focus on “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’s most loyal allies watched on as he gave his Downing Street statement.
Among them were Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones and Attorney General Richard Hermer.
Jenny Chapman, the international development minister who helped Starmer win the Labour leadership six years ago, was also there.
This developing story is being updated.
Keir Starmer resigns as UK prime minister
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