LONDON — The Keir Starmer era is over. And Andy Burnham is preparing for power within weeks.
Britain — heading for its seventh leader in a decade — has become used to the familiar spectacle of prime ministerial resignations. But the speed of events Monday still shocked even seasoned observers.
Assuming no-one else can muster the 81 MP nominations required to launch a Labour leadership bid, Burnham — the popular former mayor of Greater Manchester who found a path back to parliament through a decisive special election win late last week — will now walk to a Labour coronation on 17 or 18 July.
That’s right after parliament closes for recess. If there is a contest, the new PM is expected to be in post once parliament returns on September 1.
Starmer’s resignation Monday capped days of intense deliberations, and months of turmoil in his governing Labour Party, which is tanking in the national polls less than two years after winning an election landslide and desperately looking for a way to turn things around.
The outgoing prime minister — who will stay on to oversee the transition to a new leader — spent the weekend speaking with his closest allies and his wife Victoria.
Despite vowing to stay on and fight, he arrived at the realization that no reasonable route to staying in office existed.
Some aides said the inevitable was clear when it became even harder than usual to find ministers willing to bat for the PM on the media following the result of the Makerfield by-election. “That was one sign among many,” said one.
Events then moved quickly.
Special advisers received the instruction Sunday night to be in No.10 for 9 a.m. Monday — all-but-confirming that the PM intended to resign. Aides were quiet as they shuffled into the state banquet room to wait for news.
Soon, Co-Chief of Staff Vidhya Alakeson appeared and read out a statement to confirm what was happening and how the process would unfold, according to numerous people who were there, granted anonymity to speak freely. At one point she choked up and had to pause.
The decision to go had been kept tight enough not to leak until a little before Starmer’s statement. Civil servants in the building said it felt different to the past few prime ministerial resignations, arguing that Starmer is departing in a dignified manner rather than amid scandal or after losing an election.
Still, the decision is a heavy one.
Once Alakeson had imparted the news, aides moved to the entrance hall and waited behind the No.10 door for the signal. Starmer’s Co-Chief of Staff Jill Cuthbertson told people not to hide at the back of the crowd if there was a risk they might break down in tears. Then the team filed out onto the pavement to listen to Starmer make his speech at 9.30 a.m.
“The question being asked now is not who was best placed to change the Labour Party, to take us into power and to begin the vital work of improving lives for millions of people,” Starmer said after listing his achievements in opposition and in government. “Those questions have been answered. 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.”
After pledging to remain in post until a successor is confirmed and to give that successor “unequivocal support,” the PM fought back tears as he said: “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.”
After the PM returned through the famous black door of No.10 Downing Street with Victoria, he made another speech thanking staff — in particular those who have been there from the start. He said the super-human effort, moments of kindness and extra hours worked were all for the good of the nation and had been noted and appreciated.
“It will make a difference to people who you will never meet, who will never know what you did,” he told them, according to one paraphrased account that others confirmed. “That’s what really matters.” He also thanked those who worked in the building to look after his wife and kids, and spent time talking to people one-on-one in the garden over teas and coffees.
Starmer then returned to his office, but is spending time Monday night with those closest to him for another thanks.
Once the resignation was announced, Starmer allies David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, Richard Hermer, the attorney general, and Jenny Chapman, international development minister, were soon out on the street singing his praises to the cameras.
There were also warm words on social media too from a host of cabinet colleagues — including some who had been urging him to quit just days before.
Burnham and Streeting make their moves
Then came the two most important tweets in SW1.
It was 11 a.m. when Burnham confirmed he will indeed seek to enter No.10.
Then Streeting — who had talked up his own leadership bid and resigned from Starmer’s cabinet just weeks ago — confirmed minutes later he was rowing in behind Burnham.
“We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our Party and our country needs,” Streeting said in a statement. Streeting spoke to Burnham twice in the past week before deciding to pull out — including one-on-one over the weekend.
It means Labour’s leadership contest appears to be over before it has begun. Potential challenger Al Carns, who quit last week as a defense minister, has still not ruled out a run — although there is doubt he could amass the 81 nominations from Labour colleagues needed to make it on to the ballot.
Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester who quit Westminster in 2017 as Labour struggled under leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn, arrived at Manchester station around 11.20 a.m. for an Avanti train that was supposed to arrive at London’s Euston at 1.09 p.m. It was, like many British rail services, late.
A news helicopter diligently followed the train from above. “Everyone has lost their minds,” said one Labour aide about the footage. After arriving in London, Burnham brushed off a reporter asking whether he might call an election, before slipping into a cab via the Euston goods exit.
Burnham reached parliament around 2.15 p.m. and entered via the route next to the Red Lion, a popular Westminster pub. Around 15 minutes later he was being sworn into the Commons chamber — in a rare suit and tie for a man who has made everyman dress a trademark — to huge cheers from colleagues and a heckle from the opposition.
He went from there to parliament’s Westminster Hall for a selfie with Labour MPs — where he gave a little fist pump and signed an autograph for a member of the public on a visit.
He posed for a few more individual selfies and shared hugs with colleagues. Even Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the top finance minister widely expected to be removed by Burnham, turned up for the celebrations.
Nigel Farage — whose poll-topping Reform UK might benefit from such a vote — was quick to demand a general election, something Burnham, if he wins, is under no obligation to offer. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said Brits are “sick of being let down by an endless merry-go-round of prime ministers while nothing really changes for them.”
This account originally appeared in London Playbook, POLITICO’s twice-daily guide to what’s driving the day in British politics. Dan Bloom contributed reporting.
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