Starmer finally shows some emotion — but it’s too little, too late

FWe finally saw Keir Starmer’s true emotions when he announced his resignation after almost two years in office.

This was one of the most notable things missing from his time in office, and perhaps one of the reasons why so few people warmed to him despite his landslide election victory that pushed him into Number 10.

But much like Theresa May in 2019 (another prime minister who appeared rather robotic by the end of her term), Sir Keir regained his health as he delivered his speech from the Downing Street rostrum in full view of the world’s media.

Unfortunately for him, it was too late to make a difference as his team and supporters gathered around him, standing next to his wife Victoria, whom he describes as his “rock”. His term of office is over.

Sir Keir becomes the sixth prime minister to make this statement in less than 10 years since the Brexit referendum. It all started with David Cameron the morning after the Brexit referendum on 24 July 2016 and Mrs May resigned in 2019. Then came Boris Johnson in 2022, Liz Truss in the same month, Rishi Sunak in 2024 and now Sir Keir.

Follow our live blog updates on Sir Kier’s resignation HERE

Incredibly, Mr Sunak was the only one to make this statement after losing the election.

For Sir Keir, the statement was about preserving the last dignity of a prime minister who had been sacked for his inability to govern and decide, his loss of authority and, with the Peter Mandelson scandal, his loss of moral credibility.

This must have been a humbling experience, especially for a man who less than two years ago won a record majority and saved Labor from potential extinction. He will feel betrayed right now, and that feeling is unlikely to go away.

So, as expected in these circumstances, his emotional resignation announcement on the steps of Downing Street was utterly defiant in nature.

This was a chance for him to make the case for why he should be given the chance to stay in office and get the job done.

He listed achievements such as saving Labor and leading it to a victory no one thought possible, stabilizing the economy, increasing defense spending and lifting children out of poverty.

However, he could not escape the fact that he had lost the trust of his party in parliament, which he had to accept, in his own words, with great grace.

Sir Keir has now set a timetable to ensure the orderly transfer of power.

There was one name he did not mention during his speech and that was Andy Burnham, who will arrive in Parliament on Monday after his Makerfield by-election victory in what many expected would be his coronation as the new Labor leader.

The start date of the contest, set by the Prime Minister on July 9, will ensure that Sir Keir remains in office for more than two years and will give Labor MPs time to decide whether there will be a contest or a coronation.

This is the bitter end to a premiership that, for all its promises, never received much love.

The question now is whether the positivity, empathy and much improved communication evident in the Makerfield by-election campaign (which was clearly lacking in the Labor government) can contain the disgruntled Labor Party and turn around their fortunes.