On a Wednesday afternoon in June, Keir Starmer stood at the despatch box for the last time as prime minister, telling MPs: “This is the end of my journey.” Within hours, his resignation was official — the latest in a long line of British prime ministers to leave office before a general election. The past decade has seen an extraordinary churn of leaders at No 10, raising questions about how a prime minister resigns, why it happens, and what it means for the country.
When a prime minister resigns, they formally offer their resignation to the monarch. The outgoing leader typically remains in post until a successor is chosen by their party. In Starmer’s case, his Labour Party is expected to select Andy Burnham, who would enter Downing Street on 17 July if unopposed. The resigning PM can stay on as an MP, as Starmer is doing — his spokesperson confirmed he will serve out the remainder of his term representing Holborn and St Pancras. Some prime ministers, like David Cameron, stepped down from Parliament entirely after resigning, while others, such as Theresa May, remained as backbenchers.
“Explains how UK prime ministers resign, recent examples, and what happens next.”
The frequency of recent resignations is striking. Since 2016, the UK has had six prime ministers: David Cameron (resigned after the EU referendum), Theresa May (resigned over Brexit deadlock), Boris Johnson (forced out by party rebellion), Liz Truss (resigned after 49 days), Rishi Sunak (lost the 2024 election), and now Keir Starmer. Each resignation stemmed from a loss of political authority — whether from a referendum result, internal party disputes, or a poor election outcome. The process is governed by party rules, not fixed-term laws: the governing party chooses a new leader via its own internal election, and that person automatically becomes prime minister.
For UK readers, these leadership changes have real consequences. A new prime minister can shift policy direction on everything from tax to foreign affairs without a general election. The rapid turnover has also fuelled public cynicism about politics. Andy Burnham’s likely succession raises questions about regional representation — he is from the North of England, while recent PMs have been from southern or London seats. His victory in the Makerfield by-election showed he can build a coalition of progressive and former Conservative voters, but his relationship with Starmer has been described as “frosty”. The transition period, with Starmer still attending the Nato summit in Ankara, underscores how resignations create a caretaker phase that can delay major decisions.
Q: How does a UK prime minister resign? The prime minister informs the monarch of their decision to resign. They usually remain in post until their party elects a successor. The resignation is often announced publicly first, as Starmer did at PMQs, then formalised.
Q: Who becomes prime minister after a resignation? The governing party’s new leader automatically becomes prime minister. There is no general election unless the outgoing PM calls one before resigning. The process is internal: candidates compete for votes among party members or MPs.
Q: What happens to the outgoing prime minister? They can remain an MP, as Starmer plans to do, or leave Parliament entirely. They may take on backbench roles or accept peerages. Some, like David Cameron, later served in cabinet roles under successors.
What happens next: Burnham is expected to enter Downing Street on 17 July, with Starmer attending the Nato summit beforehand. The two have held a “frosty” meeting, and Starmer has agreed his successor can begin access talks with the civil service. No new major policy commitments will be made in the interim. The UK’s revolving door at No 10 shows no sign of stopping.