LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he was quitting on Monday following months of pressure, with veteran Labour politician Andy Burnham emerging as the front-runner to become the country’s seventh prime minister in a decade.
Burnham could be installed in 10 Downing Street in just over three weeks after would-be rival Wes Streeting said he was backing the former Manchester mayor.
Sir Starmer’s voice cracked during an emotional speech outside his official residence, conceding he had lost the support of his Labour Party lawmakers after just two years in office. He informed King Charles III of his decision to resign so a new leader could be elected.
“I will remain in post as prime minister until the contest is complete, and I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power,” Starmer said, choking back tears as he thanked his wife, Victoria, and two children.
Andy Burnham emerges as frontrunner after Streeting backs out
Starmer asked Labour’s National Executive Committee to set out a replacement timetable, with nominations opening July 9 and closing July 16.
If Burnham is unchallenged, he will likely become prime minister by July 18, UK media reported, just days before a crunch UK-European Union summit in Brussels on July 22.
Starmer returned Labour to power with a landslide victory in July 2024.
Despite being well-respected abroad for supporting Ukraine and NATO, his premiership quickly became characterised by domestic policy U-turns, deep public unpopularity, and a scandal over his ill-fated decision to appoint a known associate of the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.
His domestic authority evaporated after Labour endured a drubbing in May local elections. Lawmakers ultimately decided Starmer was incapable of fighting off the rise of the hard-right, anti-immigration Reform UK party, which leads national opinion polls.
He had vowed to fight any challenge, but senior ministers reportedly told him the game was up after Burnham won a parliamentary by-election last week, allowing him to run for leader.
Burnham, a former Labour minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown who has served as mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, travelled to London by train Monday.
He then took his seat in the House of Commons, ditching his trademark black T-shirt for a suit and tie.
“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,” Starmer added. He hugged his wife after finishing his speech, which a prominent anti-Brexit campaigner tried to drown out by playing the EU anthem, “Ode to Joy”.
Energy Secretary Ed Mili-band praised Starmer’s “great dignity”.
Burnham called for an “orderly and responsible” transition, writing on the social platform X: “I will put myself forward as part of this process”.
Mr Streeting, who previously indicated he would join the race, instead suggested Burnham could become leader without a formal contest. Mr Streeting said he was convinced Burnham “can win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism”.
Burnham will likely face questions about the extent of his mandate. Reform leader Nigel Farage swiftly called for a snap general election.
While Burnham defied national trends by easily beating the Reform UK candidate in Makerfield, he has provided little detail about his plans for government.
“I still don’t have much confidence in the government, so fingers crossed he gets it right,” said Lauren Kenworthy, a 27-year-old store worker in Manchester.
Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2026