Keir Starmer has described his decision to quit as prime minister as “intensely personal” and “really tough”, and warned his likely successor Andy Burnham that he will not be able to spend less time on the world stage than he did.
In his first interview since announcing he would stand down, the outgoing PM told the BBC that whoever takes over will face the same “more dangerous and volatile world” that has defined his two years in No 10. “It is not sensible to think you can just separate these two things out,” he said, referring to foreign and domestic policy. “They’re one and the same thing.”
“Starmer calls quitting 'intensely personal', warns Burnham cannot ignore global turmoil in farewell interview.”
The warning came as Burnham, who won the Makerfield by-election and is expected to succeed Starmer, has faced pressure from supporters to focus on domestic issues such as the cost of living and public services. But Starmer insisted: “No, I don’t think it is possible” to spend less time on diplomacy.
Starmer spoke candidly about the weekend at Chequers with his wife, Victoria, and teenage children when he concluded his “political career” was “over”. “I grappled with what was the best thing to do for me, for the country, for the government,” he said. He had previously vowed to fight on but changed his mind within three days of Burnham’s by-election victory.
Despite the rivalry, Starmer said he held no “personal animosity” toward Burnham. “Yes, I do. We’ve always got on,” he told the BBC, adding that Burnham “supports the wrong football club” – Everton. He promised to “keep my mouth shut” under his successor and to give advice only if asked.
The prime minister also used the interview to set out his legacy. He pointed to the 2024 general election victory, addressing child poverty, improving NHS waiting lists and stabilising the economy. He said he had “saved” the Labour party after its 2019 defeat, tackled antisemitism and restored public trust in defence and immigration.
Starmer stressed that his successor will inherit a platform that means “Labour can go on and should go on to win the next election”. He added: “It’s the end of my journey in politics. I’m very clear about that. I’ve said to all my colleagues it’s not the end of their journey.”