By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia ReporterJKN
ERSTWHILE PRIME Minister of United Kingdom (UK), Keir Starmer, has resigned as British PM and leader of the Labour Party (LP), saying he had “heard the answer” from his party on whether he was best placed to lead it into the next general election and “accepts that answer with good grace”.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that Starmer announced his resignation on Monday outside 10 Downing Street.
After leaving No 10 with his wife to cheers and applause, Starmer said walking up Downing Street two years ago was the proudest moment of his life.
He said he inherited a party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt” and noted that he implemented a raft of policies to change the lives of millions for the better.
“I will resign as leader of the Labour Party,” he said, adding that every decision he had taken was about “putting the country I love first”.
Starmer said he spoke to King Charles on Monday morning to inform him of his decision and had asked the Labour Party’s national executive committee to set out a timetable with nominations for the leadership opening on July 9 and completed by the summer recess.
He said this would mean a new leader would be in place before Parliament returns in September.
Until then, Starmer said he would remain in the office of prime minister.
He added that he would do everything to ensure an orderly handover of power and would give his successor full support.
Speaking about his plans after leaving office, Starmer said he would now be the best husband and father to his “fantastic wife” and “beautiful children”.
Starmer took office in July 2024 after leading Labour to a landslide victory in the general election.
That victory ended 14 years of Conservative government following Rishi Sunak’s resignation and made Starmer the country’s sixth prime minister in 10 years.
Within less than two years, his popularity began to wane after voters felt the government had not delivered on its “government of service” promise.
His standing among allies was further affected by Labour’s results in local and regional elections in May and the rise of Reform UK, the anti-immigrant populist party led by Nigel Farage.
Last year, his personal ratings fell to their lowest level, below those of Sunak.
Recent weeks also saw significant resignations from his government, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, while more than 70 Labour MPs publicly urged him to step down.
Starmer initially resisted those calls, saying he would not “walk away” and that his resignation would “plunge the country into chaos”.
Andy Burnham has been positioned as the next prime minister and is expected in Westminster to be sworn in as MP for Makerfield after winning a by election last week.
If selected to lead the country, Burnham would become Britain’s seventh prime minister in 10 years.
—
