Keir Starmer said on Monday that he will resign as leader of the governing Labour Party and step down as the United Kingdom’s prime minister, after losing the confidence of Labour lawmakers.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that he will resign as leader of the Labour Party and step down as prime minister, acknowledging that his parliamentary party no longer believes he is best placed to lead it into the next general election.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer said:
“Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.”
Starmer said he would remain in office as caretaker prime minister while the Labour Party chooses a new leader. He said he would ask the party’s National Executive Committee to set a timetable, with nominations due to open on July 9, and he said the party aimed to have a new leader in place before Parliament returns in September.
His announcement followed a weekend of heightened speculation about his future after U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that Starmer would resign, criticizing him on immigration and energy policy.
Attention is now expected to turn to the Labour leadership contest, with reporting in multiple outlets pointing to former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham as a prominent contender.
