British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced his resignation as head of the government and the leader of the Labour Party, less than two years after a landslide election victory.
“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,” he said in an emotional address outside 10 Downing Street.
“Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party,” Starmer announced.
Watch live: My statement. https://t.co/MX7ga3FRGq
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 22, 2026
After a historic election victory in 2024, Starmer’s popularity has been declining amid a prolonged cost-of-living crisis and mounting pressure from his party’s MPs and Cabinet ministers to hand over the government to a new leader.
Starmer stated that he will remain as caretaker prime minister until his party chooses a successor. He said that nominations will open on July 9 and close when Parliament breaks for its summer recess on July 16, with a new leader scheduled to be selected by September 1.
The outgoing British Prime Minister also promised to do “everything I can” to ensure an orderly handover of power. Newly elected Makerfield MP and former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is currently the front-runner to replace Starmer, but it remains unclear if any other Labour figure will challenge him.
“I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago, better prepared for the challenges ahead and better able to ensure the Labour party secures a second term in office,” Starmer said.
