This morning I spoke with His Majesty the King. I will be resigning as the leader of the Labour Party. I have asked the National Executive of the Party to prepare a timetable for nominations that will commence on 9th July and end on summer recess.
Starmer quits as Labour leader and paves way for contest for new prime minister
Sir Keir Starmer has said he will quit as Labour Party leader, paving the way for a contest to decide a new prime minister.
Speaking in Downing Street, Sir Keir said he accepted he was not best placed to lead Labour into the next general election and he had informed the King of his decision to step down.
Sir Keir added he has asked Labour’s governing body to set out a timetable to replace him, with nominations opening on 9 July and ending by the summer recess on 16 July.
He said if there was a contest then a new leader would be in place before Parliament returns in September, and he will “do everything” he can to ensure an “orderly” transition of power.
Sir Keir said he would remain as prime minister until the leadership contest is complete.
He added he would also give his 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”.
Andy Burnham is regarded by many as the frontrunner to replace Sir Keir after he secured an emphatic win over his Reform UK rival in last week’s Makerfield by-election.
Burnham announced on Monday that he would put himself forward as a candidate in the leadership contest, before he boarded a train to London to take his parliamentary seat.
His chances were given an immediate boost by former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who had been viewed as his main rival, offering his backing to the former Greater Manchester mayor.
Speaking to the BBC as he arrived at Euston station, Burnham praised Sir Keir’s “dedication and service”.
Asked if he would call a general election in the event that he became prime minister, he replied: “You’re jumping several hurdles ahead. My priority is to be sworn in as the MP for Makerfield.”
On being formally sworn in as an MP in the House of Commons, Burham was greeted by loud cheers from Labour benches and a few heckles from the opposition, with one MP shouting: “He’s not the messiah.”
After taking his seat, he joined around 200 Labour MPs in Westminster Hall to take a group selfie.
Sir Keir was elected leader of the Labour Party in April 2020 and became prime minister on 5 July 2024 following Labour’s landslide general election victory.
He will leave Downing Street as the shortest-serving Labour prime minister in history.
His period in office will last longer than his Conservative predecessors Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss but behind all six previous Labour prime ministers.
Sir Keir’s decision to step down also means the UK will soon have its seventh prime minister since 2016.
Speaking at a lectern in Downing Street, Sir Keir said his party had asked “whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election”.
He said: “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.”
Sir Keir was accompanied by his wife, Victoria, as he walked out to deliver his resignation speech at 09:30 BST in the blazing sunshine.
Watched by his supporters, colleagues and No 10 staff, Sir Keir’s voice cracked with emotion as he spoke of what his focus will be on next.
He said: “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.”
The sound of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy could be heard playing in the background as Sir Keir delivered his speech, with the EU anthem being played by a protester.
