UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that he would resign, beginning a Labour leadership transition less than two years after the party’s 2024 general election victory. Reuters reported that Starmer said he had listened to his parliamentary party and accepted that he was no longer the best person to lead Labour into the next general election, which is due in 2029.
His departure would put the UK on course for its sixth prime minister since 2019, following Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Starmer. The Associated Press described Starmer as the sixth prime minister in a decade to announce a premature departure, while Reuters said his resignation could make Andy Burnham Britain’s seventh leader in 10 years if he succeeds him.
Starmer entered office promising stability and delivery after Labour’s landslide win. His government’s “Plan for Change” focused on economic stability, reducing NHS waiting times, controlling Britain’s borders, creating Great British Energy, tackling antisocial behaviour and recruiting more teachers.
Political pressure increased after Labour’s local election results in May. Reuters reported that Labour suffered the worst local election losses for a governing party in more than three decades, while Reform UK made gains, prompting a growing number of Labour lawmakers to call for Starmer to step down.
Attention has now turned to the Labour leadership process. Reuters reported that former health minister Wes Streeting has backed Andy Burnham to replace Starmer, strengthening Burnham’s position as frontrunner. Nominations for the next Labour leader are expected to open on July 9 and, if there is a contest, a new leader is expected to be in place by September.
Starmer is expected to remain as caretaker prime minister until Labour chooses a new leader. The next prime minister will inherit ongoing debates over economic growth, immigration, NHS waiting lists and public services.
