Less than two years after a historic election victory, Starmer had faced calls from his MPs, including privately from cabinet ministers, to set out a timeline for his departure, with many of them unnerved by the threat from Reform UK before the next general election.
Yesterday Keir Starmer announced he will stand down as prime minister after days of intense pressure from Labour MPs, paving the way for Andy Burnham to take over at Downing Street.
Starmer’s decision to announce his departure kickstarted the process to become the UK’s seventh prime minister in 10 years.
Burnham confirmed he would run for the Labour leadership, saying an “orderly and responsible” transition of power would ensure “stability, seriousness and a continued focus” on the issues that mattered most to the country.
Within minutes of Burnham’s statement, Wes Streeting – the politician most likely to have run against the former mayor of Greater Manchester – announced he was instead throwing his weight behind Burnham, making a coronation highly likely despite the misgivings of some MPs.
Burnham, who was travelling down to Westminster from Manchester on Monday, is likely to have just over three weeks to prepare for government, including confirming his policy priorities and picking his cabinet, with his choice of chancellor eagerly anticipated.
Under this timetable, he would be in office by the time of a big reset summit with the EU on 22 July. Key outstanding policy decisions such as on the defence investment plan are likely to be held back until his arrival.
Speaking on Monday from behind a lectern outside No 10, 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.”
While Starmer had insisted on Friday that he would fight any leadership contest, conversations with ministers and time with his wife, Victoria, at Chequers over the weekend shifted his thinking.
More than half a dozen cabinet ministers are understood to have privately told him his time was up, while Starmer and his inner circle began work on drafts of a resignation speech on Saturday.
The prime minister said he would remain in post until parliament returned in September, meaning he would represent the UK at the next Nato summit in early July. But if there is no contest, as looks likely, Burnham could take over as early as 16 or 17 July.
In words aimed towards his likely successor, Starmer said he would do “everything I can” to ensure an orderly handover of power, despite what insiders have described as his earlier anger and frustration over Burnham’s ambitions.
“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,” he said.
Burnham is being sworn in as an MP on Monday afternoon after seeing off Reform UK to win the Makerfield by election last week. He is then expected to easily clear the 81 nominations threshold required to run for leadership of the party, with his allies saying he has the support of well over 200 MPs.
In a statement shortly after Starmer’s resignation on Monday, Burnham said: “Keir has given huge service to our country and I want to thank him for his leadership and dedication during such a challenging period.
“His decision marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way. I will put myself forward as part of this process. The country expects stability, seriousness and a continued focus on the issues that matter most and that is what it will get.”
Starmer steps down after months of pressure over his leadership, which was first almost derailed in February when Anas Sarwar, the party’s leader in Scotland, called for him to quit. At that point, the cabinet rallied round him.
Despite his poor personal approval ratings, he had seemed on firmer ground in recent months over his handling of the Middle East crisis and refusal to do Donald Trump’s biding by taking the UK into war with Iran.
However, his controversial pick for UK ambassador to Washington, had been appointed despite failing his security vetting. Mandelson’s appointment was the latest in what many inside Labour regard as a long line of political misjudgments by Starmer, including restricting winter fuel payments and welfare cuts, which caused the party to sink in the polls.
In his emotional speech, Starmer has paid tribute to friends and colleagues who had been at his side over the last six years as Labour leader, and to his family.
“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 exit caps a calamitous fall from grace since becoming only the fourth Labour leader to win an election, taking more seats in 2024 than anyone since Tony Blair’s landslide in 1997.
