British PM Keir Starmer says he will resign

Updated June 22, 2026 — 22:10,

London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced he will step down as leader of the Labor Party so the party can choose his replacement by September, beginning dramatic moves to replace his main rival Andy Burnham as the country’s seventh leader in more than a decade.

Less than two years after winning a landslide election victory that promised to end the chaos in British politics, Starmer admitted his party wanted him gone and said nominations for his successor would open in about two weeks, but did not name Burnham as his most likely replacement.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation.Getty Images

Former Manchester mayor Burnham moved within hours to confirm he would run. Minutes later, the senior leadership candidate, former health secretary Wes Streeting, withdrew himself from the race and threw his support behind the clear front-runner.

The blitzkrieg moves position Burnham as the likely prime minister as no other challengers have come forward and any candidate would need to have the support of at least 81 Labor MPs to force a contest.

Burnham, who served as health minister at Westminster before leaving parliament nearly a decade ago, will be sworn in as an MP again on Monday after winning a by-election for the northern seat of Makerfield last week.

Starmer’s decision to resign comes after at least a year of discontent within the Labor Party about his performance and months of rumors about potential rivals; This led the prime minister to set a timetable to keep him in power while the party prepared for a new leader.

While many Labor MPs backed Burnham, Starmer faced a decision on whether to object to the leadership vote or announce his departure. After contemplating his political future in his home country Checkers over the weekend, he announced his resignation in front of dozens of television cameras in Downing Street on Monday morning (London time).

“The question my party is asking now is whether I am in the best position to lead us to the next general election. I have heard my parliamentary party’s answer to that question, and I accept that answer with great grace,” an emotional Starmer said.

“Every decision I made was about putting the country I love first.

“This is why I will resign as leader of the Labor Party.”

Starmer added that he had informed King Charles of his decision and would do everything in his power to ensure an orderly transfer of power, giving his successor his “full and unequivocal support”.

The timetable means Labor’s executive committee will open nominations for the leadership on July 9, giving people until July 16 to come forward. This will allow a new leader to remain in office if parliament returns from its summer recess on September 1 in time for Labour’s annual conference in the week starting September 28.

But if another candidate emerges, the leader’s choice will be made in a weeks-long vote by thousands of Labor members, and is likely to defy that timetable.

Starmer held hands with his wife Victoria before announcing his resignation.Getty Images

Downing Street staff and cabinet members are watching Starmer’s statement.Bloomberg

Starmer’s announcement came as no surprise in London on Monday, as there had been days of mounting speculation about his departure and reports on Sunday night that he would be leaving.

His government has suffered backlash over his welfare and spending policies, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has alleged a tax scandal and Starmer’s decision has been questioned over the appointment of Peter Mandelson, a friend of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain’s ambassador to the US.

Last month Labor lost hundreds of council positions in local government elections, triggering serious doubts about the party’s fate.

The threat to Starmer rose sharply on Friday, when Burnham decisively defeated a candidate from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which was leading the national polls, in the Makerfield race.

Cabinet ministers had urged Starmer to make room for rival Andy Burnham.Getty Images

Burnham has yet to outline a full policy agenda but confirmed he would represent leadership in the party process and promised to take action on challenges including growth.

“I will put myself forward as part of this process. The country expects stability, seriousness and a constant focus on the most important issues, and that’s what it will get.”

“People want to see progress in economic growth, cost of living, utilities, housing and opportunities for future generations.”

Streeting called for a new plan from Labor to enable Britain to grow again with what he calls “progressive capitalism”, which focuses on wealth creation as well as wealth distribution. He also called for a stronger fight against “nationalist” rivals, more work on energy security and greater ties with Europe.

Former health secretary Wes Streeting, pictured, had flagged plans to oppose the leadership but now backs Andy Burnham.Bloomberg

“Having spoken at length with Andy in recent days, I am convinced that there is room for these ideas under his leadership,” he said.

Nigel Farage, the reform leader in the United Kingdom who wants to cut immigration and welfare spending, called for an election so that the British people can have a say in who will replace Starmer.

“Britain is broken. We need an election,” he said in a new article timed to the crisis within the Labor Party. He added on social media: “I’m sick of waiting. Britain needs change – real change, not just a new piece being put in place by one party.”

In last week’s national poll by YouGov, Reform led the others with 24 per cent of the vote, with Labor on 19 per cent and the Conservative Party on 19 per cent. However, his candidate suffered a heavy loss to Burnham in the Makerfield by-election; this was a key result that helped position Burnham as the best choice for Labor to defeat its Conservative rivals.

US President Donald Trump fueled rumors that Starmer would resign soon by announcing that this situation, which was seen as a violation of normal protocols between the two long-term allies, would take place a day before the actual announcement.

“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,” Trump said on Truth Social.

“He has failed miserably on two very important issues: MIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him success! President DJT.”

While Starmer has often been criticized in the media for his straight-talking style, he became emotional when he finished his remarks in Downing Street.