Sir Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as United Kingdom’s Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, less than two years after leading the party to a landslide victory in the 2024 general election.
In a statement outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, Starmer said he had accepted with “good grace” that he was no longer the best person to lead Labour into the next election.
He will remain in office as caretaker Prime Minister until a new Labour leader is elected.
Starmer’s departure marks the end of a turbulent period for the Labour government and continues the pattern of short-lived premierships in recent British politics — he becomes the sixth UK Prime Minister in the past 10 years.
He affirmed that his time in office was guided by what he believed was best for the country.
“Every decision I have made has been about putting the country I love first,” he said.
In his statement, Starmer confirmed he had informed King Charles III of his resignation and directed the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee to begin the process of choosing a new leader and nominations would open on 9 July, with the transition expected to be completed before parliament resumes in September.
(Ripples)