Keir Starmer announced his departure as British prime minister Monday, bowing to pressure after a key rival resoundingly won a by-election that would let him challenge for the top job.
In a tearful statement outside No.10 Downing Street, Starmer said he had informed King Charles III of his decision to quit.
It comes after Labour’s Andy Burnham decisively beat Reform UK in the Makerfield by-election, making him eligible to challenge Starmer for the leadership of the governing Labour Party. The scale of Burnham’s win has helped tip more Labour MPs into his camp.
Starmer said Monday he had asked Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee to launch a leadership contest, with nominations open until July 9 and the race over by the summer parliamentary recess.
The aim is to have a new Labour leader in place by September — and Starmer said he will “remain in place until the contest is complete” and “ensure an orderly handover of power.” That timeline could be compressed if Burnham goes unchallenged.
