Keir Starmer has resigned as prime minister and Labour leader, ending a premiership that he described as “the proudest moment of my life” but which unravelled after disastrous election results and a rebellion within his own cabinet.
Outside No 10 this morning, Starmer told the nation he had spoken to the King on Monday (22 June) to inform him of his decision. A podium and sound system had been set up outside the black door as it became clear his departure was inevitable. His Chief of Staff, Vidhya Alakeson, had told No 10 staff earlier that Starmer would announce his resignation today.
“Keir Starmer resigns as prime minister after cabinet tells him his position is untenable.”
“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” Starmer said, his voice wavering. “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question and I accept that answer with good grace.”
The resignation was forced by a collapse in support following Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election and Labour’s disastrous results in the May local elections. Over the weekend, multiple cabinet ministers told Starmer his position was no longer tenable. Political advisers and loyal ministers gathered outside No 10 to cheer him as he announced the end of his premiership.
Starmer will remain in post until a leadership contest is complete. Nominations among MPs will open on 9 July and close by the summer recess, with the aim of having a new Labour leader and prime minister in place in time for the party’s conference in Liverpool later this autumn. If the leadership election is not contested and Andy Burnham is the only candidate, he could become prime minister as soon as next month. Starmer said he would ask Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) to draw up the terms of the contest.
In his resignation speech, Starmer highlighted his achievements, saying he had rescued the Labour Party from “financial, moral and electoral peril” and put Britain on a stronger footing economically and in terms of its international standing with allies. He became emotional, appearing on the brink of tears as he said he would leave “the biggest job in the country” to spend more time on “the most important job” – being a husband and father.
“I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power,” he said. Britain is now due to get its seventh prime minister in ten years.