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Updated June 22, 2026 — 7:30pm,first published 6:37pm
London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced he will resign as Labour leader so the party can choose his replacement by September, paving the way for the country’s seventh leader in just over a decade.
Less than two years after he won a landslide election victory that promised to end chaos in British politics, Starmer admitted his party wanted him to go and said nominations for his successor would open in about two weeks – without naming his most likely replacement, Andy Burnham.
Within hours, former Greater Manchester mayor Burnham confirmed he would run to succeed Starmer, whom he thanked for his service and leadership.
In a post on X, the 56-year-old said Starmer’s decision marked “the beginning of a transition” for the party. “I will put myself forward as part of this process.”
Former health secretary Wes Streeting simultaneously announced he would not challenge for the leadership and threw his support behind Burnham.
“We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and our country needs,” Streeting said in a letter posted on X.
His decision not to throw his hat in the ring makes it more likely that Burnham will be selected without a leadership contest.
Starmer’s decision to resign comes after at least a year of discontent within the Labour Party over his performance and months of rumour about potential challengers, leading the prime minister to set out a timetable that keeps him in power while the party decides on a new leader.
Burnham, a health minister in Westminster before he left parliament almost a decade ago, is due to be sworn in as an MP again on Monday after winning a byelection for the northern seat of Makerfield last week.
With many Labour MPs throwing their support behind Burnham, Starmer faced a decision on whether to contest a leadership ballot or announce his departure. After mulling his political future at his country retreat Chequers over the weekend, he ultimately announced his resignation on Monday morning (London time) in front of dozens of television cameras in Downing Street.
Starmer said he had asked the party’s national executive to open nominations for the leadership on July 9, ensuring a new leader would be in place by the time parliament returned in September.
“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,” an emotional Starmer said.
“Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first.
“That is why I will resign as the leader of the Labour Party. ”
Starmer said he had informed King Charles of his decision.
He said he would do everything he could to ensure an orderly handover of power and would give his successor his “full and unequivocal support”.
The timetable means Labour would decide on a new leader, and the country would have a new prime minister, in time for the Labour Party conference due to be held in Liverpool in the week beginning September 28 – an annual gathering that is usually marked by a major speech from the leader.
The move follows Starmer’s steep slide in the polls.
His government suffered backbench revolts over welfare and spending policies, a tax scandal claimed deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, and Starmer’s judgment was called into question over his appointment of Peter Mandelson, a friend of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain’s ambassador to the US.
Last month, Labour lost hundreds of council positions in local government elections, triggering grave doubts about the party’s fortunes.
The threat to Starmer increased sharply on Friday when Burnham decisively beat a candidate from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which has led national opinion polls, in the Makerfield race.
Burnham has yet to flesh out a full policy agenda and Farage immediately called for a national election.
“I’ve had enough of waiting around. Britain needs change – real change, not another washed-up has-been shoved into place by the uniparty,” Farage said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump had fuelled talk of Starmer’s imminent resignation by declaring it would happen, one day before the actual announcement.
“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“He failed badly on two very important subjects – IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT.”
This angered many in Britain’s political ranks and was seen as a breach of the usual protocols between two longstanding allies.
While Starmer has often been criticised in the media for his flat speaking style, he was emotional when he finished his remarks in Downing Street.
He thanked his wife, Victoria, and said he would focus on looking after his family.
“Being the best husband I can, to my fantastic wife Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad,” he said of his future.
“And being the best dad that I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and joy.”
Victoria Starmer, looking downcast and emotional, walked over to her husband and they hugged before stepping back into Number 10.
With Reuters, AP
Andy Burnham’s incredible rise
Analysis | David Crowe
Andy Burnham is about to achieve a seriously astonishing rise to power in a way rarely seen in the Westminster system in Britain or elsewhere, including Australia.
Until last Thursday, he was the mayor of a major city but had no seat in parliament. Now he is the obvious choice to be the country’s next prime minister. And he seems likely to get there without a ballot.
This is a radical departure from the leadership spills the British and Australian public have seen over the years. Burnham emerged as the clear leader before he was even sworn into parliament – an event due to happen in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon (London time).
In most cases, the challenger comes from within cabinet – although Paul Keating quit cabinet to defeat Bob Hawke at a second challenge in 1991 – and has recent cabinet experience at the top of government. Not so with Burnham.
The outcome seems a foregone conclusion given three steps taken within two hours on Monday morning in Britain. First, Keir Starmer said at 9.30am that he would step down. Next, Burnham posted on social media at 11.02am to say he would put himself forward as leader. Then, at 11.05am, potential challenger Wes Streeting, a former health secretary, announced that he would not run and would instead back Burnham.
Other contenders for the leadership could still emerge, but they have a high hurdle to join the contest: they have to gain endorsement from 81 Labour MPs, out of 403 in the House of Commons, to force a ballot. This is why Burnham’s elevation now seems a foregone conclusion.
A week ago, Burnham was in charge of buses and garbage collection. Next, he could be running the country. He is hugely popular within Labour ranks, but this is an incredible risk. Leadership spills usually lead to an eruption of enthusiasm for the new prime minister. The disappointment comes later.
Read more of our UK politics coverage
- Live blog: Keir Starmer resigns
- The ‘King of the North’: What to know about the man likely to succeed Starmer
- Analysis: What’s gone wrong in British politics?
- Opinion: The UK is set to get a very different PM
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