By Ayo Kehinde
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced his resignation as leader of the Labour Party and confirmed that he would step down as prime minister once a successor is elected, ending a turbulent premiership that lasted less than two years despite beginning with a historic election victory.
Speaking in an emotional address outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer said he had concluded that he no longer had the confidence of his party to lead Labour into the next general election.
“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 said, as he thanked colleagues, supporters and his family for their support during his time in office.
The outgoing prime minister said nominations for the Labour leadership contest would open on July 9, with a new leader expected to be chosen before Parliament returns from its summer recess in September. He will remain in office until the transition is completed.
“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.
The announcement marks a dramatic fall for Starmer, who swept to power in the 2024 general election with a landslide victory that ended 14 years of Conservative rule and raised hopes of a more stable era in British politics.
The former human rights lawyer and Director of Public Prosecutions had rebuilt Labour after years in opposition, positioning the party as a centrist alternative capable of restoring public trust in government.
However, his administration soon encountered growing difficulties, including sluggish economic growth, pressure on public services, internal party disagreements and a series of policy reversals that critics said damaged his credibility.
Public frustration mounted as Labour struggled to deliver on some of its key campaign promises, while opinion polls showed support for the government steadily declining.
Starmer’s personal approval ratings also fell sharply, becoming among the lowest recorded for a serving British prime minister.
Pressure on Starmer intensified significantly following the return of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to Westminster after a decisive parliamentary election victory last week.
Burnham, a former cabinet minister and one of Labour’s most prominent figures, is widely regarded as the frontrunner to succeed Starmer.
His strong electoral performance has fuelled hopes among Labour lawmakers that he could revive the party’s fortunes and counter the growing influence of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which has led several national opinion polls over the past year.
The prospect of a Burnham leadership challenge accelerated calls within Labour for change, with many MPs reportedly concluding that the party needed a new figurehead ahead of the next national election.
