After months of speculation, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer officially resigned on Monday morning in a speech to the country outside 10 Downing Street.
Starmer, who has been prime minister since his landslide election victory with Labor in 2024, is set to step down amid the possibility of a leadership contest, with the hope that a new Labor prime minister will be appointed before the British Parliament returns in September.
With his resignation, Starmer becomes the sixth British Prime Minister to resign since the, and ultimately devastating, Brexit referendum vote in June 2016. In the ten years since Brexit, the UK has seen David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and now Starmer, leave No. 10 earlier than they had hoped, and with much of the public and press turning against them.
What makes Starmer’s downfall even more stark is that he did not resign over any major pressing scandals, and became leader in a historic landslide victory, giving him an iron majority in Parliament, and with a major opposition party on the verge of collapse. However, Starmer has faced persistent criticism from members of his own party over the death and destruction in Gaza, his more right-leaning policies on transgender people, civil liberties, immigration, and measures to address growing inequality.
The UK now faces the prospect of a seventh leader within a decade, as it continues to struggle economically outside the European single market and with the continuing constraints of an aging population, stagnant wages and low growth.
In a short speech, an emotional Starmer spoke of his successes as leader, including returning Labor to power as well as some victories on health service waiting lists, increased defense spending and a significant reduction in illegal immigration.
Recently elected Labor MP Andy Burnham, a successful former mayor of Manchester, is widely expected to win any upcoming leadership contest and become the next Prime Minister. Although Burnham may run uncontested. However, Burnham faces the same series of structural issues that hampered Starmer, with an increasingly limited number of policy options to remedy the ills facing the UK.
Starmer’s full resignation letter is below.
Thank you. Thank you. Walking down this street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life. A new Labor government. The first in 14 years. A page in our country’s history that was closed after years of disappointment and despair.
An opportunity to change the lives of millions of people for the better. This is what I came into politics for. The journey to that point was not easy.
Six years ago, I inherited a Labor Party that was politically, financially and morally bankrupt. I’ve been told, over and over again, that my party is over.
That we had been consigned to history, and that a majority in general elections, let alone an overwhelming majority, was impossible. But we proved these people wrong because we changed our party.
Remove the poison of anti-Semitism, and restore confidence in the economy, defense and national security.
We become the party that once again stands proudly with our national flag and not against it. The hard work for change had one purpose. Not just power for power’s sake, but to change Britain for the better.
To build a more just country, with dignity and respect, where everyone is seen, and everyone is valued. Wealth and opportunity are for everyone, not just the privileged few. And look at what we have achieved in just two years.
A stronger economy, growing faster than our peers. Wages have been rising faster than inflation every month since we came to power. Investment is guaranteed, infrastructure is being built. The end of austerity, with the fastest decline in NHS waiting lists in 17 years.
The biggest improvement in workers’ and tenants’ rights in a generation. The largest increase in defense spending since the Cold War. Small boat crossings falling, asylum hotels closing, youth being protected from social media, and half a million children lifted out of poverty because of the choices you made.
We have restored our reputation in the world, with Britain once again standing up for decency, respect and the rule of law. Securing trade entitlements, standing with Ukraine, defending our values, and rebuilding our relationship with our allies in Europe.
The change was promised by the Labor government. The change was fought for by the Labor government, and the change was achieved by the Labor government.
But I know that the question now is not who is best placed to change the Labor Party, bring us to power, or begin the vital work of improving the lives of millions of people. These questions have been answered.
The question for my party now is whether I am best placed to lead us to the next general election. I have heard my parliamentary party’s answer to this question. I accept that answer with good grace.
Every decision I made was about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labor Party. I spoke with His Majesty this morning to inform him of my decision.
I will ask Labour’s National Executive Committee to set a timetable for nominations to open on 9 July and be completed by the summer recess. In the event of a competition, this will ensure a new leader before Parliament returns in September.
I will remain in my position as Prime Minister until the competition is over. I will do everything in my power to ensure an orderly handover of power.
I will also give my successors my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain far stronger and fairer than the one they inherited two years ago, better prepared to meet the challenges ahead, and better able to ensure that Labor secures a second term in office.
I would like to thank all the friends and colleagues who have been by my side over the past six years or so for their amazing commitment, service and support.
I would like to thank the wonderful staff at Number 10 and our country’s exceptional civil service, who dedicate their lives to public service.
And when I leave, the biggest job in the country. I will spend more time on the most important task. Be the best husband I can be to my amazing wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good and bad times. And to be the best father I can be to my beautiful children, who are my pride and joy.
Thank you very much.
