LONDON, Jun 22: Sir Keir Starmer (63) on Monday quit as Britain's Prime Minister
and leader of the Labour Party. He said he will remain in office until a new
PM is elected by the party.
Starmer said he accepted with 'good grace' his party's suggestion that he was
not the best person to lead Labour into the next election. And that came as
his chief party rival and likely frontrunner for the post, Andy Burnham makes
his return to parliament (on Monday afternoon), positioned to launch a formal
leadership challenge. Starmer saw what was coming and the timing was anticipated.
He said, “a new leader will be in place before Parliament returns in September,
I will remain in post until the contest is complete”.
It is the sixth prime ministerial resignation in the UK in 10 years.
The appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as UK's ambassador to the US, major
Labour losses in local elections in May and major policy changes all worked
against Starmer.
He did not give in to pressure to stand down but everything changed after his
rival in the party Andy Burnham beat Reform UK in the Makerfield by-election
on Thursday.
Burnham is in a strong position to win the party mandate although a contest
is not ruled out. If uncontested, he could be in Downing Street within weeks
as the UK’s seventh prime minister in 10 years.
Speaking from a podium outside Downing Street, 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. 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.”
Last week he had said he would fight any leadership contest even as half a
dozen Cabinet ministers privately told him to give up, but changed his mind
by weekend. The change followed discussions with his other ministers, wife Victoria
and advisers at Chequers (Chequers is the official country residence of the
British Prime Minister, located in Buckinghamshire).
Starmer said he would ask his Labour party's national executive committee to
make a timetable for a contest with the process starting on July 9 and completed
by summer recess a week later.
He said he would remain in office until parliament returns in September, but
if an ambitious Burnham is elected uncontested, the situation will change—he
will take over early.
Starmer said in his speech, “I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal
support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer
than the one I inherited two years ago, better prepared for the challenges ahead
and better able to ensure the Labour party secures a second term in office.”.
The fact that Burnham had won and was scheduled to be sworn in as MP on Monday
afternoon, in fact, expedited Starmer's decision to stand down. Burnham reportedly
enjoys the support of well over 200 MPs.
It is speculated Wes Streeting, former health secretary, may also contest.
But lacking numbers, he may prefer to come back in the Cabinet.
Starmer was choking with emotion at the end of his speech while paying tribute
to friends, colleagues and wife Victoria.
Starmer has been facing pressure from within the party for months to quit over
what was perceived as poor leadership.
His last words were:“When I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend
more time on the most important job, being the best husband I can to my fantastic
wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad, and being
the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and my joy.”
Starmer's predecessor was Indian origin Conservative Rishi Sunak, richest but
lacked ability to lead and administer.
Keir Starmer holds the title of "Sir" because he was awarded a knighthood in
2014 for his "services to law and criminal justice". He was appointed a Knight
Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours list.
What forced the resignation: The background
Sir Keir Starmer was forced to stand down after a dramatic collapse in internal
party support, culminating in a heavy by-election defeat that triggered an open
leadership crisis.
While he initially vowed to fight for his position, several deep-seated domestic,
international, and internal political pressures ultimately made his premiership
untenable.
1. The immediate trigger: The Andy Burnham victory.
The Makerfield By-Election: The immediate catalyst for his resignation
was the resounding election victory of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham
in the Makerfield by-election.
The Alternative Leader: Burnham’s return to Parliament provided the
Labour Party with a highly popular, obvious alternative leader. This immediately
unified backbenchers and Cabinet members who wanted a change in direction.
2. Collapsing popularity and policy stagnation
Electoral slump: Despite his landslide victory in July 2024, Starmer’s
popularity plunged to historic lows. High-profile losses and setbacks during
local elections fueled fears among Labour lawmakers that they would lose the
next general election under his leadership.
Economic and cost-of-living frustrations: The public grew increasingly
frustrated with the Government's failure to deliver rapid economic growth and
tangible relief for the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
3. Scandals and high-profile Cabinet resignations
The Mandelson controversy: Starmer faced severe backlash after appointing
Peter Mandelson as the UK’s Ambassador to the United States. It was revealed
that Starmer ignored explicit warnings regarding "reputational risks" due to
Mandelson’s historical ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
An avalanche of resignations: Key figures began abandoning his Government
weeks prior. High-profile Cabinet allies—including former Health Secretary Wes
Streeting and the UK's top two defence officials—resigned due to policy disagreements
and a total lack of confidence in Starmer's long-term leadership.
4. International pressures and the Iran war
The US relationship: Global events heavily fractured his standing. In
the wake of the Iran war, Starmer's relationship with US President Donald Trump
completely deteriorated.
Geopolitical fallout: Trump publicly lambasted Starmer over defence
and energy policies, openly predicting his resignation and declaring that Starmer
had "failed badly". This public breakdown further isolated Starmer on the international
stage.
Over a tense weekend of private conversations, it became clear that his Cabinet
and parliamentary party would no longer back him. To avoid a chaotic, drawn-out
mutiny like those that toppled previous Conservative Prime Ministers, Starmer
chose to resign with "good grace" to allow an orderly transition.
) 
