The British prime minister is leaving office — but will stay in post to let Labour pick a new leader as Labour rival Andy Burnham enters parliament. Follow all the action live.
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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 — and set out plans for a Labour leadership contest.
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 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.
Since coming to office with a commanding House of Commons majority in 2024, Starmer’s Labour government has repeatedly struggled to gain momentum. It suffered huge losses to Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK in local elections, has been hit my multiple scandals, and Starmer has U-turned on a series of key policies in the face of pressure from his own ranks.
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