Keir Starmer resignation highlights: Andy Burnham takes first step towards becoming 7th UK PM in a decade

The frontrunner to be the UK's next prime minister, Andy Burnham was sworn in as a member of parliament on Monday, a key step in his bid to replace Keir Starmer.

Starmer announced his resignation as prime minister on Monday after fewer than two years in office, as calls mounted for the unpopular leader to step down after Burnham won a vital by-election last week.

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he quits on Monday, paving the way for the country to have its seventh leader in 10 years. The chaos dates back to the Brexit referendum, 10 years ago to the day on Tuesday.

In the years since the vote, Britain has tried to forge its own path but struggled to boost its low-growth economy, hamstrung by high debts and a growing welfare bill, at a time of growing geopolitical volatility.

JUNE 2016: UK VOTES FOR BREXIT, PM CAMERON QUITS

Britons cause a global shock by voting 52%-48% to leave the European Union, ending a more than 40-year union and plunging the country into its biggest political crisis since World War Two. Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron resigns and the party chooses Theresa May to succeed him.

JUNE 2017: SNAP ELECTION GAMBLE BACKFIRES

Riding high in opinion polls and seeking a bigger majority in parliament to push Brexit legislation through, May calls a snap election. The Conservatives lose their majority and form a government by striking a deal with Northern Ireland's pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party.

MAY 2019: BREXIT PARALYSIS, MAY RESIGNS

May quits after failing to break a parliamentary deadlock over how Britain should leave the EU. Boris Johnson, one of the main faces of the pro-Brexit campaign, wins the internal Conservative Party contest to succeed her.

DEC 2019: JOHNSON LEADS CONSERVATIVES TO WIN

With parliament paralysed over Brexit, Johnson calls a snap election. Campaigning under the slogan "Get Brexit Done" he steers the Conservatives to their biggest election win since Margaret Thatcher's landslide victory in 1987.

JAN 2020: BREXIT GETS DONE

Johnson uses his mandate to drive a Brexit deal through parliament and Brussels, and Britain exits the EU on January 31, 2020, becoming the first state to withdraw from the bloc.

JULY 2022: JOHNSON OUSTED

Johnson leads Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic — at one point being hospitalised himself with the disease — but a long list of scandals and missteps proves too much and he steps down after a ministerial revolt.

SEPT 2022: TRUSS'S CHAOTIC PREMIERSHIP

Liz Truss beats Rishi Sunak in a contest to succeed Johnson. Her "mini-budget" containing unfunded tax cuts spooks financial markets, pushing up borrowing costs sharply and further tarnishing Britain's reputation for political and fiscal stability. She lasts only 44 days before announcing her resignation.

OCT 2022: SUNAK BECOMES PRIME MINISTER

Sunak takes over as Britain's third prime minister in as many months, pledging to restore stability to government. He makes five key pledges focused on the economy, stopping illegal immigration and improving the health system. In February 2023, Sunak strikes a deal with the EU on trade rules for Northern Ireland, improving ties with the bloc.

MAY 2024: SUNAK CALLS ELECTION

Trailing the Labour Party by around 20 points in the polls, Sunak calls an election for July 4.

JULY 2024: STARMER BECOMES PRIME MINISTER

"We said we would end the chaos and we will," Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, told supporters on July 5, 2024, after winning a landslide election but with the smallest share of the electoral vote of any majority government in modern history.

AUG 2024: STARMER WARNS 'THINGS WILL GET WORSE'

Starmer warns over the state of the public finances, saying the Labour Party has inherited "an economic black hole" and tells voters "things will get worse before they get better".

OCT 2024: LABOUR'S FIRST BUDGET

Finance minister Rachel Reeves announces tax rises worth £40 billion a year, primarily by raising employers' social security contributions, putting the tax burden on course to reach its highest level on record in peacetime and prompting an outcry from businesses.

FEB 2025: NIGEL FARAGE'S REFORM UK PARTY SURGES

Right-wing anti-immigration party Reform UK overtakes Labour in a national opinion poll for the first time. Reform UK, led by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, has topped polls ever since.

JUNE 2025: REBELLION FORCES STARMER U-TURN ON WELFARE

Starmer is forced to reverse plans to cut Britain's welfare bill after his own lawmakers threatened to defeat the government.

SEPT 2025-APR 2026: MANDELSON SCANDAL

Pressure on Starmer ramps up over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain's ambassador to Washington. Mandelson was later sacked over his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as questions emerge over Starmer's judgment and the vetting process involved.

MAY 2026: LOCAL ELECTION DISASTER

The Labour Party suffers heavy losses in English local elections and votes for the Scottish and Welsh assemblies, deepening questions over Starmer's ability to govern, with Reform UK the main beneficiary.

MAY 2026: WES STREETING RESIGNS AS HEALTH MINISTER

Streeting quits saying he had lost confidence in Starmer's leadership and calls for a leadership contest.

JUNE 2026: DEFENCE MINISTER JOHN HEALEY QUITS

British Defence Minister John Healey quits over a months-long dispute over defence spending, accusing Starmer of failing to commit the money needed to keep the country safe from mounting threats.

JUNE 2026: ANDY BURNHAM SHOWS HE CAN BEAT REFORM UK Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wins an election in the north of England, trouncing Reform UK in the process, and allowing him to return to Westminster, removing a key obstacle to any leadership challenge against Starmer. Streeting, who had previously said he would take part in a leadership contest, throws his weight behind Burnham, bolstering the former mayor's position as frontrunner.

(AP inputs)

Luke Pollard, Britain's minister for defence readiness, said he would be backing Andy Burnham to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. He said this in a post on X on Monday, hours after Starmer announced he would step down.

The United Kingdom has had six prime ministers since 2010 — an average of barely two years per leader — in one of the most turbulent stretches of modern British political history.

David Cameron led from 2010 to 2016, introducing austerity measures before calling the Brexit referendum that ultimately ended his tenure.

Theresa May succeeded him from 2016 to 2019, consumed largely by the task of negotiating Britain's exit from the European Union.

Boris Johnson then served from 2019 to 2022, overseeing the completion of Brexit and Britain's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Liz Truss followed, lasting just 49 days — the shortest premiership on record.

Rishi Sunak, Britain's first British-Indian prime minister, then served from 2022 to 2024, focused on economic stabilisation.

All five were Conservatives, meaning 14 years of unbroken Conservative government. That ended on July 5, 2024, when Keir Starmer assumed office, marking Labour's return to power. But now he's gone too.

(inputs from AP)

After UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday he was quitting, he paved the way for what is expected to be an orderly transfer of power to frontrunner Andy Burnham, who could become Britain's seventh PM in 10 years as early as mid-July.

Starmer said he would ask the Labour Party's organising committee to set out a timeline for a leadership contest to find his replacement.

• Nominations would open on July 9, close by mid-July;
• If there is a contest, a new leader will be in place by September
• Only one candidate in fray could mean a new leader would enter office by mid-July.

The threat to Starmer, which had been building for months, increased sharply on Friday when Burnham decisively won a parliamentary election to return to Westminster, beating a candidate from Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which has led opinion polls for more than a year.

He has a process to follow, though:

• To join the contest, candidates must win the support of a fifth, or 81, of the Labout Party's House of Commons lawmakers.
• Those candidates who reach that threshold of support would then have to receive the backing of 5% of local constituency parties, or at least three party affiliates, which are groups such as trade unions and cooperative societies.
• Eligible members of the party and affiliates would then vote for the leader using an electoral system that ranks the candidates. The winner is the first candidate to secure more than 50% of the vote.
• King Charles would then invite the winner to become PM and form a government.

The British currency pound went up in value after Keir Starmer announced his resignation as UK Prime Minister, and the path to power began to clear for a frontrunner to succeed him.

Starmer’s resignation statement was followed quickly by an announcement from Andy Burnham that he would seek to become the next premier.

The chances of a smooth transition increased when Wes Streeting, until recently seen as a potential rival candidate, said he would back Burnham.

Investors are focused on what impact a new leader will have on the nation’s finances, and who that person might pick as their Chancellor if Rachel Reeves is sacked.

“This implies a smooth transition without many delays and more importantly could also increase the chances of Streeting to have a prominent role in cabinet as Chancellor,” said Pooja Kumra, senior UK and European rates strategist at Toronto Dominion Bank.

Burnham has offered little clarity so far on the potential policies he’d pursue, making it difficult to gauge the ramifications for future borrowing.

Streeting’s support could reassure investors who may be nervous about any potential increase in bond sales to fund spending, given the UK is already struggling with its debt levels.

Nominations for a contest for a new leader will open on July 9, Starmer said, and be completed by the September 1, with him remaining in post until the process is concluded. However, a new prime minister could be in place by July 17 or 18 if there is only one candidate, Bloomberg reported.

In a post on X, Your Party leader and MP Jeremy Corbyn criticised outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying he had the opportunity to help end child poverty, homelessness and the country's stark inequalities, but instead chose to abandon those most in need.

Keir Starmer resignation LIVE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky penned a heartfelt note for outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Taking to X, the Ukrainian leader thanked the British leader for cooperation and support during the ongoing war with Russia.

"Thank you for always being in touch, always engaged, and always striving to do what is needed and what will truly help," he wrote, adding that the Labour leader will always be a "welcome guest in Ukraine."

Keir Starmer resignation LIVE: Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner took to X on Monday to thank outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer.

Rayner, who was the first deputy under the Starmer government, paid tribute to the former lawyer's record of public service.

"His premiership saw us legislate new rights for working people, renters and leaseholders, invest in a generational boost to social housing, devolve powers to communities, the creation of Great British Energy and Great British Railways, action to tackle child poverty and so much more. This is a record of which any Labour government could be proud," she added on X.

Keir Starmer resignation LIVE: Following the resignation of Keir Starmer, the European Union has stated it is considering its summit plan with the UK.

As per reports, the EU-UK summit was set for July 2026. However, with Starmer's resignation on Monday, a spokesperson for the commission said they are "reassessing the opportunity."

Keir Starmer resignation LIVE: European Council president Antonio Costa stated that the regional bloc will remain committed to continued cooperation with the UK, following the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

“Under your premiership @Keir_Starmer, we turned a new page in EU-UK relations. The EU is committed to continued cooperation in this spirit. It has been a pleasure to work with you, as a colleague and a friend. Thank you, dear Keir,” Costa wrote on X.

Keir Starmer resignation LIVE: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has resigned from office, marking another major leadership change in the United Kingdom. The development comes amid a period of repeated political transitions in recent years, keeping attention fixed on the country’s shifting leadership landscape.

But alongside the political churn, one familiar figure at 10 Downing Street remains unchanged. Larry the cat, the official Chief Mouser, has now outlasted six UK prime ministers during his long stay at the Prime Minister’s residence.

Keir Starmer resignation LIVE: David Lammy, who is the Deputy Prime Minister of the UK, thanked Keir Starmer for his service and stated that under his leadership, the Labour Party "transformed."

"I’ve known Keir since he was a lawyer. He was principled then, just as he is now, and throughout his career he has been driven by a deep sense of public service and duty to this country. He transformed the Labour Party, rooted out antisemitism, restored trust and made our party electable again. He won a historic mandate to change Britain for the better and, most importantly, he delivered on that promise," Lammy wrote on X.

"Change promised, change fought for and change delivered. That is Keir Starmer’s legacy, and I am incredibly proud to have played my part in it," he added.

Keir Starmer resignation LIVE: Outgoing British prime minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday. As he concluded his speech, the Labour leader stated that it was time to step down from the “biggest job of the country,” and spend more time doing “the most important job in the world" - being the best husband and father.

"Being the best husband I can be to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad. And being the best dad that I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and joy," Starmer said as he teared up after an emotional speech.

UK PM Starmer resignation LIVE: Andy Burnham, who is currently the mayor of Greater Manchester, is the frontrunner for the race for the next British prime minister.

The British leader, who is seen as Keir Starmer’s biggest rival in the Labour Party, announced that he will be contesting for the top post, hours after Starmer announced his resignation at 10 Downing Street.

"Keir has given huge service to our country and I want to thank him for his leadership and dedication during such a challenging period. His decision marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way. I will put myself forward as part of this process," Burnham wrote on X.

He added that the UK expects "stability, seriousness and a continued focus on the issues that matter most and that is what it will get."

UK PM Starmer resignation LIVE: As Keir Starmer announced his resignation as UK prime minister, Andy Burnham is the frontrunner for succession to the coveted post. Starmer became the sixth UK PM in the last decade to have resigned before their term ended.

Starmer made the announcement of his resignation on Monday, ending days of uncertainty. He said it was time for a new chapter in leadership and pledged full support to his successor, expressing confidence in the party's future and vowing to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of power.

Burnham is currently the mayor of Greater Manchester and is seen as Keir Starmer’s biggest rival in the Labour Party.

Burnham's position as Starmer's rival is partly due to the 56-year-old being perceived as politically left-leaning, which has been a traditional Labour stance before Starmer came along and tried to position himself as centre-right to counter Reform UK’s growing popularity, a strategy that seems to have backfired spectacularly.

Burnham is considered as Starmer's biggest rival, one of the being that he's perceived to be to the political left of the prime minister. He has earned the moniker “King of the North”, with reference to the popular Jon Snow character in “Game of Thrones”, given his fierce backing of northern England. He marked big wins in three mayoral polls since 2017.

UK PM Starmer resignation LIVE: The next prime minister of the United Kingdom will be announced by September 1. During his resignation announcement, outgoing PM Keir Starmer said he will stay on in a caretaker role, until the Labour Party chooses its next leader.

The process to replace Starmer will begin with his formal resignation on July 9, the date he said he would step down as prime minister and Labour leader.

Following Starmer's exit, Labour is expected to choose a new leader over the summer and before the start of the Parliament session in September.

UK PM Starmer Resignation LIVE: Dutiful rather than dynamic, Keir Starmer was elected Britain's prime minister to be a safe pair of hands who would end years of political chaos under the Conservatives.

His term is ending less than two years later after missteps, party infighting and one colossal error of judgment that indirectly ensnared him in the scandals surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, a man he had never met and whose sexual crimes he was not complicit in.

On Monday, Starmer said in an emotional statement that he is stepping down as leader of the governing Labour Party, though he will remain caretaker primer minister until a new Labour leader is chosen in coming weeks.

"The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election," he said. "I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace."

Starmer's selling point was "no more soap opera politics," said Rob Ford, a political science professor at the University of Manchester. Instead, Ford said, his government was "the antithesis of what he said he was going to be about, and it's very hard to survive that".

A trouncing for Starmer's Labour Party in a midterm set of local and regional elections on May 7 proved the final straw. It triggered a series of government resignations and challenges that look set to sweep former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham into 10 Downing Street.

(AP)

UK PM Starmer Resignation LIVE: Starmer described entering Downing Street two years ago after Labour's election victory as "the proudest moment of my life", saying it marked a new chapter for the country after years of "disappointment and despair".

He said his goal had always been to improve people's lives, adding that the opportunity to bring change was the reason he entered politics.

Referring to growing questions over his leadership, Starmer said, “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."

Starmer said every decision he had taken was guided by what he believed was best for the country, adding, “That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.”

He said he had spoken to King Charles III about his decision and would remain Prime Minister until Labour chooses a new leader, pledging “to ensure an orderly handover of power.”

UK PM Starmer Resignation LIVE: Starmer spent four years leading the opposition, moving the centre-left Labour Party away from the left and closer to the political centre before assuming power in 2024.

A trained lawyer, he headed prosecutions in England and Wales from 2008 to 2013. He received a knighthood for his work as head of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Born in 1963, Starmer is the son of a toolmaker and a nurse, who named him after Keir Hardie, the Labour Party's first leader. He grew up with his three siblings in a modest household in a town on the outskirts of London.

He became the first person in his family to attend university. He studied law at the University of Leeds and the University of Oxford, and worked in human rights law before taking over as chief prosecutor.

Starmer entered politics in his 50s and won a seat in Parliament in 2015. He frequently clashed with then party leader Jeremy Corbyn, a committed socialist, and at one stage resigned from Labour's senior team because of policy differences. However, he later agreed to serve as the party's spokesperson on Brexit under Corbyn.

UK PM Starmer Resignation LIVE: With Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing his resignation, the Labour Party will now begin the process of choosing its next leader, who will automatically become Britain's next prime minister.

To enter the contest, a candidate must secure the backing of at least 20% of Labour MPs. With the party currently holding 403 seats in Parliament, that means a contender needs the support of 81 lawmakers, including their own nomination. Candidates must also meet additional support requirements from local Labour organisations and affiliated groups such as trade unions.

If more than one candidate qualifies, the winner will be chosen through a ballot involving Labour Party members and affiliated supporters. The successful candidate will then take over both the party leadership and the office of prime minister.

Starmer said nominations would open on July 9 and close before Parliament breaks for its summer recess on July 16. He added that the leadership process should be completed before Parliament returns on September 1.

However, if only one candidate secures the required level of support, there will be no vote. In that case, the candidate will be elected unopposed as Labour leader and will immediately become Britain's next prime minister.

UK PM Keir Starmer Resignation LIVE: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would quit on Monday, paving the way for the country to have its seventh leader in 10 years. The chaos dates back to the Brexit referendum, 10 years ago to the day on Tuesday.

In the years since the vote, Britain has tried to forge its own path but struggled to boost its low-growth economy, hamstrung by high debts and a growing welfare bill, at a time of growing geopolitical volatility.

UK PM Starmer Resignation LIVE: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday after facing intense pressure following the political rise of Labour rival Andy Burnham. Starmer's departure will make him the sixth UK prime minister in a decade to leave office before completing a full term, highlighting the political instability that has persisted since the Brexit vote in 2016.

Starmer said he would remain as caretaker Prime Minister until Labour selects a new leader in the coming weeks.

He has led Britain since Labour's landslide victory in the July 2024 general election. However, both his personal approval ratings and the party's popularity have declined sharply during his two years in office.

Delivering a brief statement from 10 Downing Street to announce his departure, Starmer appeared emotional, with his voice breaking toward the end of his remarks.

“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” Starmer said. “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.”

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UK PM Keir Starmer Resignation LIVE: The process to replace Starmer will begin with his formal resignation on July 9, the date he said he would step down as prime minister and Labour leader.

The announcement came after a difficult weekend for Starmer, who reportedly reflected on his future following Burnham's victory in a special parliamentary election, said a Reuters report. Burnham, the former Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, had campaigned with the aim of challenging Starmer's leadership of both the party and the country.

On June 22, Burnham is due to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament, further strengthening his position within Labour and setting the stage for a leadership contest, according to Reuters.

Following Starmer's exit, Labour is expected to choose a new leader over the summer. Starmer said a successor would be in place by the time Parliament returns from its summer recess in September, ensuring a new prime minister is installed before lawmakers resume business.

US President Donald Trump had predicted about the annoucement on Sunday even before Starmer's made it official today.

"Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT," Trump posted on his social media platform.

UK PM Starmer Resignation LIVE: Dutiful rather than dynamic, Keir Starmer was elected Britain’s prime minister to be a safe pair of hands who would end years of political chaos under the Conservatives.

His term is ending less than two years later after missteps, party infighting and one colossal error of judgment that indirectly ensnared him in the scandals surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, a man he had never met and whose sexual crimes he was not complicit in.

On Monday, Starmer said in an emotional statement that he is stepping down as leader of the governing Labour Party, though he will remain caretaker primer minister until a new Labour leader is chosen in coming weeks.

“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” he said. “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.”

Starmer’s selling point was “no more soap opera politics,” said Rob Ford, a political science professor at the University of Manchester. Instead, Ford said, his government was “the antithesis of what he said he was going to be about, and it’s very hard to survive that.”

A trouncing for Starmer's Labour Party in a midterm set of local and regional elections on May 7 proved the final straw. It triggered a series of government resignations and challenges that look set to sweep former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham into 10 Downing Street.

(AP)