On the morning of 22 June 2026, Keir Starmer stood outside 10 Downing Street and announced he was resigning as Labour leader and prime minister. It was an emotional speech: he appeared 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. Britain is now set to get its seventh prime minister in ten years.
Starmer became prime minister in July 2024 after Labour’s landslide general election victory. But his premiership unravelled quickly. Labour suffered disastrous results in the May 2026 local elections, and then Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election in June. Burnham is the Greater Manchester mayor and a former Labour cabinet minister. Multiple cabinet ministers told Starmer over the weekend before his resignation that his position was no longer tenable. Starmer acknowledged this in his speech: “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.”
“Keir Starmer resigns as PM and Labour leader after poor election results – how it happened, what comes next.”
Starmer said he had spoken to the King earlier that morning to inform him of his decision. He will remain in post until a new leader is chosen. Nominations for the Labour leadership contest will open on 9 July and close by the summer recess. A new leader and prime minister should be in place by early September, in time for Labour’s party conference in Liverpool. If the leadership election is uncontested and Andy Burnham is the only candidate, he could become prime minister as soon as next month.
The reactions from other party leaders have been mixed. Reform leader Nigel Farage claimed credit on his Substack, saying “Starmer isn’t the first Prime Minister I’ve deposed” and calling for a general election. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch listed Starmer’s failings – “hiking national insurance, the Family Farm Tax, not funding defence” – and accused him of lying. There was no magnanimity from either, though Starmer had paid tribute to Rishi Sunak when he left office.
Q: Why did Keir Starmer resign? Starmer resigned after Labour’s poor results in the May 2026 local elections and Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election. Cabinet ministers told him his position was no longer tenable, and he accepted the judgment of his parliamentary party.
Q: Who is likely to replace him? The frontrunner is Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and a former Labour cabinet minister. If he is the only candidate nominated, he could become prime minister as soon as July. Otherwise, a leadership contest will be held, with a new leader chosen by early September.
Q: What happens next – is there a general election? There is no automatic general election. Under Britain’s system, the new Labour leader will become prime minister without a vote. However, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch have called for a general election, arguing that the new PM lacks a personal mandate. The next election is not due until 2029, but pressure for an early poll may grow.
Starmer said he would do everything to ensure an orderly handover and give full support to his successor. The Labour leadership contest will begin on 9 July, and Britain will have a new prime minister by early September. With Reform leading in the polls and the Tories calling for an election, the political uncertainty is far from over.